Promoting a Safe Internet for Minors Act

Summary of H.R. 6289 — Promoting a Safe Internet for Minors Act

Purpose and intent

• The bill aims to promote online safety for minors by amending the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) as part of the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act framework.
• It shifts focus from (or adds to) privacy protections by mandating a nationwide public awareness and education program on safe internet use for minors, led by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in collaboration with federal, state, local, nonprofit, educational, industry, and other partners.

Key provisions

Section 211: Public Awareness and Educational Campaign

• Timeline: The program must begin within 180 days after enactment.
• The FTC, in partnership with:
  • Heads of other relevant federal agencies
  • State and local governments
  • Nonprofit organizations, schools, the internet/tech industry
  • Law enforcement and medical professionals
  • Other appropriate entities
• Activities to be carried out nationwide include:
  • Identifying, promoting, and encouraging best practices for educators, online platforms, minors, and parents/guardians to protect minors online
  • Establishing and implementing a broad outreach and education campaign on online safety for minors
  • Facilitating access to, and exchange of, information about online safety risks and beneficial practices
  • Enabling publicly accessible online safety education and public awareness efforts by the above partners

Section 212: Annual Report

• The FTC must submit an annual report describing activities carried out under Section 211.
• First report due within 1 year of enactment, then annually for 10 years.
• Reports delivered to:
  • Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
  • House Committee on Energy and Commerce

Section 213: Definitions

• Minor: under age 17.
• Online Safety: includes:
  • Protecting minors from cybercrimes, access to narcotics, tobacco, gambling, alcohol, and other adult content
  • Preventing compulsive online behavior and other negative impacts on health
  • Facilitating safeguards, parental controls, and other protective tools for parents/guardians and minors
• Agency: as defined by 5 U.S.C. § 551
• Commission: Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
• Nonprofit Organization: 501(c)(3) entities
• State: includes all U.S. states, D.C., territories, possessions, and federally recognized Indian Tribes

Structural/Conforming Changes

• Amends the table of contents for Subtitle A of the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act to reflect the new Sec. 211 (Public Awareness and Educational Campaign), Sec. 212 (Annual Report), and Sec. 213 (Definitions), replacing prior sections 211–214 and 216.

Who is affected

• Primary: Minors under 17 and their guardians/parents
• Federal agencies (primarily the FTC) responsible for leading and coordinating the outreach program
• State and local governments, schools, nonprofit organizations, online platforms, industry participants, law enforcement, and medical professionals involved in youth internet safety and education
• The public at large through enhanced safety information and resources

Procedural and timeline aspects

• Introduced: November 25, 2025
• Status: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session held; later forwarded to the full Committee by voice vote
• Legislative actions:
  • November 25, 2025: Introduced and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade
  • December 11, 2025: Subcommittee considered and marked up the bill; forwarded to full committee by voice vote
• No new funding authorization is specified in the text provided; the bill focuses on establishing a nationwide outreach and education program led by the FTC, with collaboration across multiple partners

Overall impact

• The bill broadens the mission of online safety for minors by creating a nationwide FTC-led education and public awareness campaign resulting in ongoing reporting for a decade.
• It prioritizes sharing best practices and accessible information to educators, platforms, and families, aiming to reduce online risks for minors through prevention, awareness, and parental tools.