How the KIDS Act Could Compromise Children’s Online Privacy

Reflecting on his own childhood online, the writer expresses concern that the KIDS Act will compel services to verify users’ ages, prompting them to collect data they previously did not need. He points out that more data means larger breach targets and that liability fears could drive companies to demand government-issued IDs or biometric identifiers. The article references a UK law that spurred broader age-checking requirements and a subsequent Discord breach that exposed identity documents held by a third-party verifier.

By treating all digital experiences—from console games to social media—as the same, the legislation may restrict beneficial online interactions or drive kids to unregulated spaces. The author argues that parents, not Congress, are better suited to decide which platforms are appropriate, and that existing tools like Nintendo’s parental controls or services such as Bark and Aura already help manage safety without sweeping legal mandates.