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HR 1781 117th Congress House

PROTECT Kids Act

Official title: To amend the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998.

Introduced: March 10, 2021 Introduced by: Walberg, Tim Republican · Michigan See on congress.gov
Science, Technology, Communications Administrative law and regulatory proceduresChild safety and welfareCongressional oversightConsumer affairs
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Government studies and investigationsInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaRight of privacyTelephone and wireless communication
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 11, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.
Mar 10, 2021
Introduced in House
Mar 10, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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 Latest action March 11, 2021

Referred to the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Preventing Real Online Threats Endangering Children Today or the PROTECT Kids Act

This bill addresses the online collection of personal information from children.

Specifically, the bill raises the age for parental consent protections for children online from under 13 to under 16, adds geolocation and biometric information to protected personal information, and extends all protections for children online to mobile applications.

The bill also requires the operator of a website, online service, or mobile application to delete a child's personal information upon the verified request of a parent, and it prohibits such operator from terminating service to a child whose parent has refused to permit further collection or use of that child's personal information.

Additionally, the Federal Trade Commission must study and report on the appropriateness of the existing actual knowledge standard (preventing an operator from collecting personal information without meeting certain requirements when it has actual knowledge that it is collecting such information from a child) and what effects changing such standard will have on children's online privacy.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1781: PROTECT Kids Act. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-1781/
MLA
"H.R. 1781: PROTECT Kids Act." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-1781/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1781, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-1781/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1781: PROTECT Kids Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-1781/)
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