Wyden Blocks Hawley’s Attempt at UC Passage of Kids’ Online Safety Bill

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., on Tuesday blocked an attempt by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., to approve children’s online safety legislation by unanimous consent. Hawley sought UC for the Stop Children Suffering from Abuse and Mistreatment (Stop CSAM) Act, saying Big Tech won’t stop harming children until it faces liability in court. “This is the only industry in the country that can make a product that will literally kill you, and if it does, you cannot do anything about it," said Hawley. Wyden argued the bill would weaken encryption, which he said is the strongest online protection for children and families, because it would punish companies for offering strong encryption standards. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has separate plans to seek UC for the Stop CSAM Act and four other online safety bills the Senate Judiciary Committee approved (see 2402060084).