Meta Seeks US Legal Immunity Against Child-Harm Lawsuits

Meta Platforms is lobbying the U.S. Congress for legal protection against thousands of lawsuits claiming its social media apps such as Instagram harm children.

According to draft legislative language reviewed by Reuters, Meta wants lawmakers to include an immunity provision in the upcoming Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). If adopted, this measure could block thousands of pending lawsuits filed by young users, their parents, and school districts seeking to hold online platforms accountable for child safety failures.

The lobbying effort highlights the tech giant's push for legal cover as the U.S. undertakes its biggest effort to regulate online platforms since the 1990s. Earlier this year, Meta and Google's YouTube lost a landmark trial, resulting in a combined $6 million in damages over the harm caused by their platforms.

The Proposed Immunity Clause

The draft language proposed by Meta would make internet companies "immune from suit or liability under state law" regarding any claims related to the online safety or privacy of users under 18. It also includes language that would override existing state laws on children's online safety.

A source familiar with the matter revealed that Meta offered to drop its public opposition to KOSA if this immunity language was included in the final bill.

Meta spokesperson Stephanie Otway defended the effort, stating the provision does not mean "blanket immunity." Instead, she argued, it would establish "uniform national standards for online youth safety," preventing a complicated patchwork of state laws and plaintiff-driven lawsuits.

Strong Pushback from Legal Experts

Legal advocates strongly disagree with Meta’s framing. Julia Duncan of the American Association for Justice, representing trial lawyers, warned that the provision would immediately dismiss any existing lawsuits once the law took effect.

"The language is pretty clear-cut immunity against every parent, every school district, that is seeking to hold any AI or social media company accountable for harm," Duncan said.

Lawmakers also appear hesitant. KOSA was co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal. When asked about Meta's proposed immunity language, a spokesperson for Senator Blackburn firmly rejected it, saying: "We have not seen that proposed language and would never consider it."

What is KOSA?

The Kids Online Safety Act would force tech companies to take practical steps to prevent harm to minors. Specifically, it targets addictive design features like infinite scrolling, continuous activity notifications, and appearance-altering photo filters. During their recent trial loss, a California legal team successfully argued that Meta and YouTube fully knew these specific features were addictive and damaging to young users.

KOSA previously passed the U.S. Senate in 2024 with overwhelming bipartisan support (91-3) but stalled in the House of Representatives. The bill has been reintroduced this year with backing from top Senate leaders, sparking renewed negotiations between lawmakers and tech companies over how to finally regulate child safety online.