Jewish Federations of North America welcome the bipartisan agreement on the KIDS Act and urge the House to pass this important legislation when it is considered on the floor this week. The package incorporates four bipartisan bills that Federations have tirelessly supported and would help address serious online harms, including antisemitism, by strengthening protections for children and teens, improving transparency and accountability for digital platforms, expanding educational resources, and providing parents and minors with better tools to navigate online risks. 

 

Jewish Federations have actively engaged with lawmakers from both parties to advance legislation addressing the growing threats that children face online. A study by Jewish Federations of North America and ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) found that fifty-five percent of Jewish Americans have experienced antisemitism in the past year, and online antisemitism is the most common form. As antisemitic harassment, bullying, and extremist rhetoric continue to proliferate across social media platforms and rapidly advancing AI technologies, strengthening online safety has become an increasingly important priority for the Jewish community and families across the country.  

 

“Jewish children deserve to grow up in online spaces that are safe, transparent, and free from hate,” said Omer Yarden-Oppenheim, Director of Government Relations at Jewish Federations of North America.  “We are proud to endorse this bipartisan package, reflecting years of collaborations between lawmakers and Jewish Federations to better protect children while giving families the tools they need to navigate today’s digital landscape, which unfortunately is frequently filled with hate.”  

 

Jewish Federations have advocated for four of the bipartisan bills in the broader KIDS Act package: the AI Warnings and Resources for Education (AWARE) Act, the Promoting a Safe Internet for Minors Act, the Assessing Safety Tools for Parents and Minors Act, and the Kids Internet Safety Partnership Act. These measures help advance Federations’ longstanding priorities of improving online safety, increasing accountability for technology platforms, and equipping parents, educators, and children with evidence-based resources to address online harms. 

 

Jewish Federations have been strong advocates throughout the legislative process and local Federations worked tirelessly to advance this legislation. This powerful engagement helped elevate the importance of online safety and the need to ensure that Jewish families remain part of the national conversation.   

 

“This legislation comes at a time when Jewish children and teens face growing antisemitism online, which leads to intimidation and hate that extend beyond the internet into schools, campuses, and communities,” said Yarden-Oppenheim. “Jewish Federations applaud Chairman Brett Guthrie, Ranking Member Frank Pallone, and the bipartisan coalition of lawmakers whose efforts made the KIDS Act possible.”  

 

Jewish Federations look forward to working with both the House and Senate to advance the KIDS Act and ensure meaningful protections for Jewish children, and all children, online. 

 

Urge your member of Congress to support the KIDS Act and protect children online today.