Accountability record

Where Richard J. Durbin stands on Kids online safety and privacy

See what they have said and done—and where the information comes from.

Richard J. Durbin

IL · U.S. Senate

Where they stand

On the record

Richard J. Durbin supports stronger platform accountability, limits on children’s data collection and targeting, and regulation of addictive platform design, while conditioning child-safety measures on protecting free speech.

Position details

Require online platforms to protect kids by default
Supports
Supports stronger, enforceable responsibilities for online platforms to protect children and hold companies accountable for child-safety harms.
The cited statements do not establish a specific duty, liability rule, enforcement mechanism, or design prohibition.
Sources for this position
Limit addictive design without policing viewpoints
Supports
Supports regulating addictive, engagement-maximizing platform design that keeps children online for extended periods.
The cited statements do not identify which specific design features should be prohibited.
Sources for this position
- Congressional hearing record · Feb 19, 2025 (opens in a new tab)
- Congressional hearing record · Feb 14, 2023 (opens in a new tab)
Strengthen kids’ privacy and limit data collection
Supports
Supports limiting large-scale collection, profiling, and targeted advertising involving children’s data.
The cited statements criticize these data practices but do not specify a particular privacy remedy.
Source for this position
- Congressional hearing record · Feb 14, 2023 (opens in a new tab)

Show 1 more position

Reject kids’ safety laws that could censor lawful information
Support depends on
Conditionally supports child-safety measures when they balance protection of children with protection of free speech.
They said: “We can and we will balance the need to protect free speech and the need to protect our kids from harm.”
Source for this position
- Durbin calls on senate colleagues to support efforts to protect childrens safety online · May 17, 2023 (opens in a new tab)

How we reached this answer

This answer uses the specific statements and actions below. We consider what each bill or vote actually did; a bill number by itself is not treated as a position.

Congressional activity recorded in an official government source.Congressional hearing record · Feb 19, 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Congressional activity recorded in an official government source.Congressional hearing record · Feb 14, 2023 (opens in a new tab)

What they said

“Today's overwhelming vote should send a message to Big Tech that its days of policing itself are over.”
Read the full statement (opens in a new tab)
“This has to change. The Senate Judiciary Committee is taking bipartisan action to see that it does.”
Read the full statement (opens in a new tab)

We checked 32 of 32 bills Modern Action tracks on this subject.

Full record

What they have said and done

Newest records with confirmed dates appear first.

CosponsorApr 17, 2026
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S. 3062 · GUARD Act
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What they’ve saidFeb 26, 2026· Official congressional website
Durbin grassley pass bipartisan online child safety package through senate judiciary committee
“In the digital age, predators can target our kids from anywhere.”
View source (opens in a new tab)
CosponsorJul 31, 2025
This action needs another review before we explain what it means.
S. 1748 · Kids Online Safety Act
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Original cosponsorJun 10, 2025
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S. 2012 · Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2025
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Original cosponsorMay 21, 2025
This action needs another review before we explain what it means.
S. 1829 · STOP CSAM Act of 2025
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Legislative recordFeb 19, 2025· Official congressional website
Congressional hearing record
Congressional activity recorded in an official government source.
“Big Tech designs their platforms to be addictive, keeping users online for longer and longer so they can be fed more targeted ads”
Official source (opens in a new tab)
What they’ve saidJul 30, 2024· Official congressional website
Durbin statement on senate passage of kids online safety and privacy act
“Today's overwhelming vote should send a message to Big Tech that its days of policing itself are over.”
View source (opens in a new tab)
What they’ve saidMay 17, 2023· Official congressional website
Durbin calls on senate colleagues to support efforts to protect childrens safety online
“This has to change. The Senate Judiciary Committee is taking bipartisan action to see that it does.”
View source (opens in a new tab)
What they’ve saidMay 2, 2023· Official congressional website
Durbin joins in introduction of the bipartisan kids online safety act
“Our children are not commodities, and we can't continue to expect parents and victims alone to stand up to Big Tech with few ways to hold tech companies accountable.”
View source (opens in a new tab)
What they’ve saidApr 20, 2023· Official congressional website
Durbin unveils new efforts to protect childrens online safety on the senate floor
“Congress must impose stronger, enforceable online protections for kids. Our children are not commodities, and we can't continue to expect parents and victims alone to stand up to Big Tech with few ways to hold tech companies accountable.”
View source (opens in a new tab)
Legislative recordFeb 14, 2023· Official congressional website
Congressional hearing record
Congressional activity recorded in an official government source.
“online platforms are doing everything they can to keep our kids' eyes glued to their screens.”
Official source (opens in a new tab)

Ask where they stand

Updated Aug 19, 2026

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