Senators Richard Blumenthal and Marsha Blackburn announced on Saturday that they have collaborated with X to enhance the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) in order to ensure it does not impede free speech while strengthening online safety for minors. The bill was passed by the Senate in July with a vote of 91-3, but has since faced delays in the House. Advocates are urging for its swift passage before the year ends. X’s CEO Linda Yaccarino also voiced her support for the updated bill, calling on Congress and the House to prioritize its approval.
Yaccarino stated in a post on X, shared by the two senators, that they have progressed in safeguarding freedom of speech while upholding online safety for minors. KOSA aims to protect children from harmful content and addictive features on social media platforms by holding companies accountable with a “duty of care.” Critics have raised concerns over potential censorship and other negative impacts of the bill. The recent amendments clarify the guidelines for enforcing duty of care and restrict its application to specific mental health conditions linked to excessive usage.
In a joint statement, Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) and Blackburn (R-Tennessee) expressed that the modifications address misconceptions about the bill being used for censorship. They thanked X’s leaders for their support in advancing children’s online safety without compromising free speech. The senators reiterated X’s call for the timely passage of KOSA, emphasizing its broad congressional support.
Initially introduced in February 2022, KOSA has encountered opposition from organizations like the ACLU and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, prompting revisions to address concerns.
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