WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, as the U.S. Senate votes to advance two significant children’s online safety bills – the Kid’s Online Safety Act and the Children’s and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act – Lartease Tiffith, Vice President for Public Policy at the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), issued the following statement:

“IAB strongly supports initiatives to protect children online. As a parent, I share the concerns of other parents regarding our children’s safety. However, it’s important to recognize the vital role that online education, communication, and entertainment play in the lives of children—much of which is provided for free thanks to advertising. While these bipartisan bills propose some reasonable updates to current regulations, they also present challenges that could hinder access to high-quality content, particularly for children. We are concerned about the potential for conflicting state laws, subjective knowledge standards that could increase liability for general audience websites and apps, and restrictions on the use of internal data that helps service providers improve customer experiences. Additionally, IAB is particularly worried about provisions that may limit free speech, effectively placing government oversight on platform content decisions. As the legislative process continues, we remain committed to working with lawmakers to refine these bills and ensure they achieve their intended goals without unintended consequences.”

About IAB
The Interactive Advertising Bureau empowers the media and marketing industries to thrive in the digital economy. Its membership comprises more than 700 leading media companies, brands, agencies, and the technology firms responsible for selling, delivering, and optimizing digital ad marketing campaigns. The trade group fields critical research on interactive advertising, while also educating brands, agencies, and the wider business community on the importance of digital marketing. In affiliation with the IAB Tech Lab, IAB develops technical standards and solutions. IAB is committed to professional development and elevating the knowledge, skills, expertise, and diversity of the workforce across the industry. Through the work of its public policy office in Washington, D.C., the trade association advocates for its members and promotes the value of the interactive advertising industry to legislators and policymakers. Founded in 1996, IAB is headquartered in New York City.

IAB Media Contacts
Kate Tumino / Brittany Tibaldi
212-896-1252 / 347-487-6794
[email protected]/[email protected]