SAFE for Kids Act of 2026
Jun 10, 2026
Introduced: Jun 10, 2026
Jun 10, 2026
Introduced: Jun 10, 2026
Summary
Makes websites with a lot of adult material check a user's age to stop children under 18 from seeing things that could be harmful to them.
What problem does this solve?
Children can easily find harmful sexual content on the internet because there are no strong age checks. This bill forces websites with this type of content to verify a user's age before they can see it.
What does this bill do?
Mandatory age verification for adult content sites
Requires websites where over one-third of the content is sexually harmful to minors to verify a user is 18 or older using digital ID or a commercial verification system.
Strict privacy rules for verification data
Forbids companies or their third-party partners from keeping or selling any personal information collected during the age verification process.
Creates a private right to sue
Allows parents, legal guardians, or any individual to file a civil lawsuit against a company that violates the age verification rules.
Establishes severe criminal penalties
Allows the Department of Justice to prosecute knowing violations, with penalties including up to 5 years in prison and fines as high as $1,500,000.
Empowers the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce
Gives the FTC the power to treat violations as an unfair or deceptive practice, allowing it to enforce the law with its full authority.
Exempts internet service providers and search engines
Protects companies like internet providers and search engines from being held responsible simply for providing access to a website that violates the law.
Who does this affect?
- Minors (individuals under 18)
- Websites and social media platforms with adult content
- Parents and legal guardians
What is the real world impact?
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Could lead to online censorship
The definition of 'harmful' content is broad and based on 'community standards,' which could be used to block material that is not pornographic but is controversial, potentially limiting free speech for adults.
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Creates new privacy risks
Requires users to provide government ID or other personal data to access certain websites. This could create large databases of sensitive information that are targets for hackers or misuse, despite rules against keeping the data.
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Protects children from harmful online content
Creates a legal requirement for websites with significant amounts of adult material to block access for users under 18, aiming to create a safer internet for kids.
When does this start?
This bill would take effect as soon as it is signed into law, and it includes specific reporting deadlines.
First enforcement report to Congress
The Federal Trade Commission and the Attorney General must submit their first report to Congress on investigations and enforcement actions no later than one year after the law is enacted.