Senate to take up social media bills

The ideas and innovators shaping health care

Jul 23, 2024 View in browser   By Ruth Reader, Daniel Payne, Carmen Paun, Erin Schumaker and Toni Odejimi TECH MAZE Schumer says he's moving ahead with legislation to regulate social media. | Getty Images Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) plans to bring a pair of children’s online safety and privacy bills to the Senate floor this week, his office said Tuesday. The news comes amid pressure from a coalition of parent and health care advocacy groups concerned about the mental health effects of social media. The Kids’ Online Safety Act and the Children’s and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act would impose regulations meant to protect minors from companies’ data collection, targeted advertising and harmful content posted by users. “These bills have been a well-known priority for Leader Schumer, and though he has attempted to pass these bills in the most expedited way possible — by unanimous consent — but they were blocked,” Schumer’s office said in a statement. State of play: The White House’s Kids Online Health and Safety Taskforce has backed rules. In a new set of recommendations, the taskforce suggested legislation that sets baseline privacy protections for kids and requires companies to prioritize the safety and well-being of young people in their product design. “There is a huge diversity in the online platforms and services that young people use, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to making platforms safer for kids,” the taskforce writes. “It is pivotal that platform operators design their services with kids’ health, safety, and privacy in mind.” That sounds a lot like the Kids Online Safety Act, a bill with 69 co-sponsors in the Senate that would require companies to mitigate existing harms to children and consider their online experience in the product design process. It also minimizes the amount of data companies can collect on children and mandates independent audits of platforms to ensure compliance. Companion legislation in the House is awaiting consideration before the Energy and Commerce Committee. Why it matters: Despite mounting evidence that social media can negatively impact kids, social media companies have largely been immune to regulation. What’s next? KOSA’s chief Senate sponsors, Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) were set to hold a press conference Tuesday afternoon to push for Congress to pass the bill before the August recess.   Live briefings, policy trackers, and procedural, industry, and people intelligence from POLITICO Pro Analysis gives you the insights you need to focus your policy strategy this election cycle. Secure your seat.      WELCOME TO FUTURE PULSE Brooklyn, N.Y. | Erin Schumaker/POLITICO This is where we explore the ideas and innovators shaping health care. Some Japanese seniors have found a new way to get their bodies moving: breakdancing, The Guardian reports. There are no headspins and monkey flips but they can still pull together a perfect breakdancing pose. Share any thoughts, news, tips and feedback with Carmen Paun at cpaun@politico.com, Daniel Payne at dpayne@politico.com, Ruth Reader at rreader@politico.com, Erin Schumaker at eschumaker@politico.com, or Toni Odejimi at aodejimi@politico.com. Send tips securely through SecureDrop, Signal, Telegram or WhatsApp.   WORLDVIEW A dapivirine vaginal ring that can prevent HIV transmission. | AFP via Getty Images Leading public health organizations are making a big investment in HIV prevention. How so? The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria along with the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation plan to spend up to $2 million in 2024 and 2025 on 150,000 dapivirine vaginal rings — a type of pre-exposure prophylaxis that the World Health Organization has recommended for preventing HIV infection in women since 2021. The ring releases the antiretroviral drug dapivirine to prevent HIV transmission. It has so far been inaccessible for many because of its high cost, according to Miles Kemplay, head of sexual and reproductive health and rights at the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation. “This partnership is the first step in making the market more sustainable and increasing access for those who need it.” Why it matters: “In many areas of the world, the rate of new HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women is more than three times the rate among adolescent boys and young men,” Peter Sands, executive director of the Global Fund, said. What’s next? The current version of the ring, which lasts for one month and costs $12.80, is made by Sever Pharma Solutions in Sweden. Regulators will soon review a new version that lasts for three months and will cost $16.20 per ring, the Global Fund said in a statement.   SUBSCRIBE TO GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Don’t miss out on POLITICO’s Global Playbook, our newsletter taking you inside pivotal discussions at the most influential gatherings in the world. Suzanne Lynch delivers the world's elite and influential moments directly to you. Stay in the global loop. SUBSCRI     WASHINGTON WATCH Dr. Stanley Goldfarb (center) testifies before Congress. | House Committee on Education and the Workforce handout In their push to ban gender-affirming care for minors, Republicans are relying on advice from nephrologist Stanley Goldfarb and his organization, Do No Harm, while they ignore mainstream medical groups that back the care. It’s just one indication of how the sources of medical advice on policy are changing in Washington and state capitals. How so? Goldfarb, former dean at the University of Pennsylvania's medical school, argues that hormone treatments, puberty blockers and rare surgeries to change physical characteristics are medically harmful. He’s raised millions of dollars for his cause while prompting angry broadsides from advocates of gender-affirming care like Dr. Marci Bowers, president of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. Republicans in state capitals and Washington, who increasingly view the mainstream groups as filled with progressive ideologues, are happy to use him as a legislative strategist. So far, 25 states have restricted gender-affirming care for minors, and Goldfarb could gain more influence in Washington if Republicans win control of the government in November. What’s next? Goldfarb said people in GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump’s orbit have reached out to him for advice on potential appointees for administration jobs in a second Trump term. “Our goal right from the beginning was to have an effect,” Goldfarb told Daniel. “We’ve done that.”   Follow us on Twitter Carmen Paun @carmenpaun Daniel Payne @_daniel_payne Ruth Reader @RuthReader Erin Schumaker @erinlschumaker   Follow us

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