Heinrich advances legislation to protect children online and safeguard their privacy, hold Big Tech companies accountable.
Support and advance legislation to protect children’s online privacy and hold big tech companies accountable.
Occurrences
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Founder and Co-Chair of the Senate Artificial Intelligence Caucus, applauded Senate passage of the bipartisan Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0), legislation he cosponsored to protect children online and safeguard their privacy, and hold Big Tech accountable.
Evidence
Sen. Martin Heinrich said the Senate passed legislation he cosponsored that would protect children online, safeguard their privacy, and hold Big Tech accountable. The release states the package combined the Kids Online Safety Act and COPPA 2.0 and that Heinrich said the bills would empower parents to safeguard kids' well-being and privacy while holding Big Tech accountable.
The Senate Commerce Committee reported that the Senate overwhelmingly passed the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) and the Kids Online Safety Act on July 30, 2024, describing them as bills to better protect children and teens online and to ban targeting online advertising to children under 17.
Heinrich's office said he has been a cosponsor of COPPA 2.0 since the 118th Congress and that the bill would ban targeted advertising to children and teens, create an eraser button, and tighten data minimization and consent rules for ages 13 to 16.
Congress.gov member activity shows Heinrich as the sponsor of S.1909, a different technology policy bill, and separately lists S.1418 Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act and S.1409 Kids Online Safety Act in the member activity results for the 118th Congress, indicating his legislative activity in this policy area.
Sen. Martin Heinrich applauded Senate passage of the bipartisan Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0), saying it is legislation he cosponsored to protect children online, safeguard their privacy, and hold Big Tech accountable. The release adds that Heinrich has been a cosponsor since the 118th Congress.
Sen. Markey said the Senate passed COPPA 2.0 by unanimous consent, describing it as a bipartisan update to children's and teens' online privacy protections and a step to stop Big Tech's tracking and targeting online.
Assessments
Heinrich materially advanced legislation matching the promise: he cosponsored COPPA 2.0 and supported the child online privacy and Big Tech accountability package that passed the Senate. The promise was framed as supporting and advancing legislation, not necessarily securing final enactment, so Senate passage of legislation he cosponsored is enough for delivery. Timing is same_term because the advancement occurred while he remained in federal office as U.S. Senator.
Heinrich materially supported and advanced legislation directly matching the promise: children's online privacy protections and Big Tech accountability through COPPA 2.0 and the Kids Online Safety Act. The package passed the Senate on July 30, 2024, while Heinrich was in office, and his office identifies him as a cosponsor/supporter. Because the promise was framed as supporting and advancing legislation rather than securing final enactment into law, Senate passage and cosponsorship are enough for delivery in the same federal term. Continued support in 2026 reinforces the record but is not necessary for the outcome.