Hajra Naz
The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) is back in front of Congress. If it passes, it could bring the biggest changes to internet safety rules in the U.S. since the late ’90s, when COPPA first became law.
The goal? To make social media companies legally responsible if they don’t do enough to protect kids online. That includes dangers like eating disorders, drug abuse, sexual exploitation, and even suicide.
KOSA cleared the Senate with little resistance last year. But it hit a wall in the House. Now, it’s being reintroduced.
Since its first appearance in 2022, the bill has sparked a lot of concern.
Groups like the ACLU fear it could open the door to censorship or more government control over the internet. Lawmakers have tried to calm those fears by updating parts of the bill. But critics like the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Fight for the Future still aren’t convinced.
“The bill’s authors keep saying it won’t impact speech. But it absolutely does,” Fight for the Future said.
“This ‘Duty of Care’ means platforms would need to block content the government doesn’t like — and those making that call? They’re often the same ones silencing marginalized voices.”
Even with that pushback, KOSA has found support among some big names in tech. Microsoft, Snap, and X (formerly Twitter) are all backing it. X CEO Linda Yaccarino even helped shape the latest draft alongside Senators Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal.
Google and Meta are still against it. But Apple is now officially on board. Timothy Powderly, the company’s senior director of Government Affairs, said
“Apple is pleased to support the Kids Online Safety Act, Everyone has a role in keeping kids safe online. We believe this bill could make a real difference.”
