Arizona joins bipartisan coalition of state AGs that oppose federal kids online safety bill

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes joined a bipartisan coalition of 44 state attorneys general Tuesday in urging Congress to reject a House bill aimed at protecting children online, arguing the measure would shield major tech companies from accountability and undercut state efforts to safeguard minors.

The Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act, or KIDS Act, is pitched as a measure to “protect children and teens online, empower parents and strengthen families.”

The bill would require pornographic websites to verify users’ ages, mandate parental controls on social media platforms for users under 17, ban disappearing messages for minors and require AI chatbots to disclose they are not human.

Why Republican and Democrat state Attorneys General want the proposal spiked

The bipartisan coalition argues the bill’s fine print does more to shield tech companies than hold them accountable.

The attorneys general said the legislation would preempt state laws that protect minors from online harm.

One of the bill’s perceived weaknesses is a section that exempts AI chat functions deemed “incidental” to a platform’s primary purpose, a loophole the coalition warned could swallow the rule as companies bolt chatbots onto existing products.

“(The Kids Act) lets Big Tech off the hook and would hurt the ability of states like Arizona to protect children online,” Mayes said in a statement. “The safety of our children is more important than maximizing profits for Big Tech companies and the billionaires who own them. Congress should reject the House version of this bill and demand more accountability from Big Tech companies, not less.”

The letter comes as attorneys general across the country, including Arizona, continue investigations and litigation against major social media platforms, including Meta and TikTok, over allegations their platforms target and harm underage users.

“With dangerous products like AI chatbots gaining prominence, we have a duty to do more to protect our kids from companies that care only about maximizing engagement and profits,” Mayes said. “The safety of our children online is not negotiable.”

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