Democrats’ ‘Project 2029’ goes after tech companies with online safety plan

2026-06-29 · Source: Semafor · Field: Government & Public Sector — Public Policy & Governance, Regulatory & Compliance · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, extended

Summary

Democrats' "Project 2029" has unveiled its initial major policy proposal, a comprehensive framework for online child safety, intended to shape the 2028 presidential race. This initiative, a counterweight to the conservative Project 2025, aims to galvanize the party around what it terms this generation's "tobacco moment" for social media. The "Kids Over Clicks" proposal advocates for narrowing Section 230 protections, clarifying that platforms are not shielded from liability for AI-generated content, paid ads, illegal activities, or promoting nonconsensual behavior. Additionally, it calls for banning social media for children under 16, implementing stronger default privacy, designing safer platforms, banning school cell phones (with exceptions), promoting smartphone-free childhoods until age 14, banning surveillance advertising, and limiting data collection on children. Some proposals are designed for executive action, bypassing Congress.

Key takeaway

For tech company legal counsel and product managers designing platforms for US users, you should proactively assess your liability exposure and product features for minors. Project 2029's "Kids Over Clicks" proposal signals a strong political push to narrow Section 230 protections and mandate age restrictions for social media users under 16. This framework, potentially enacted via executive action, necessitates reviewing your current data collection practices, privacy defaults, and content moderation policies to mitigate future legal and regulatory risks.

Key insights

A Democratic policy group proposes comprehensive online child safety regulations, including Section 230 reforms and age restrictions, for the 2028 election.

Principles

• Online child safety offers a less polarizing policy entry point.
• Presidential executive action can circumvent legislative stalemates.
• Section 230 liability shields require reinterpretation for modern harms.

In practice

• Clarify Section 230 liability for AI-generated or illegal content.
• Implement age bans for social media use under 16.
• Mandate stronger default privacy and data collection limits.

Topics

• Online Child Safety
• Tech Regulation
• Section 230 Reform
• AI Content Liability
• Social Media Policy
• Democratic Policy Agenda

Best for: CTO, VP of Engineering/Data, Director of AI/ML, Policy Maker, Legal Professional, AI Ethicist

Related on AIssential

• House GOP Moves Ahead with Kids Online Safety Package as Democrats Balk — Partisan divides hinder comprehensive online child safety legislation, with disagreements on corporate accountability and state preemption.
• Bipartisan Smorgasbord of Children’s Online Safety Legislation Passes the House — The KIDS Act seeks to establish a comprehensive federal framework for online child safety and privacy, updating existing laws and introducing new platform responsibilities.
• Snap, YouTube, and TikTok settle suit over harm to students — Social media companies face increasing legal and financial liability for alleged addiction and harm to minors.
• Meta Expands 13+ Teen Settings Globally Across Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger — Meta is implementing global content restrictions and frequency checks to enhance teen safety on its platforms.
• UK Weighs Under-16 Social Media Ban for 2027 — The UK's proposed under-16 social media ban expands age verification requirements to gaming and AI, setting a new regulatory precedent.
• Meta’s reckoning over kids safety is in the hands of two juries — Ongoing trials could hold Meta liable for platform harms, potentially setting precedents for tech accountability.

Open in AIssential →

Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Semafor.