1. United States
2. Md.
3. Letter

I urge you to vote NO on H.R. 7757, the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act, scheduled for a vote on Thursday. Despite its name, this bill would eliminate stronger state protections that currently give child sexual abuse survivors and their families better legal recourse against tech platforms. House staffers have confirmed that the preemption language in this bill is intentional. It would wipe out state laws that provide survivors with stronger protections than federal law currently offers. This means children who were groomed, exploited, and sexually abused on platforms like Roblox and Discord would have fewer legal options to hold these companies accountable. Big Tech companies, specifically Roblox and Discord, have spent years and millions of dollars lobbying for this outcome. They timed this bill for a rushed markup weeks before midterm elections when public attention is diverted. Children currently represented in federal litigation for sexual exploitation on these platforms could see their cases become significantly harder to win if H.R. 7757 passes. Republican Attorneys General in seven states have sued Roblox in response to constituent demands for accountability. It makes no sense for Congress to undercut these state-level efforts by passing legislation that protects the very companies being held accountable in court. This should not be a partisan issue when children's safety is at stake. The case of Michael "Schlep" illustrates the problem clearly. This YouTuber was groomed on Roblox and Discord as a child and later dedicated his life to exposing predators on the platform. His work led to six arrests. Instead of supporting his efforts, Roblox banned him and sent a cease-and-desist letter while predators remain unpunished on their platform. State Attorneys General are taking action because their constituents demanded it. Congress should support these efforts, not preempt them to benefit companies that have failed to protect children. I ask you to vote NO on H.R. 7757 and stand with survivors instead of Big Tech.