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‘Pass It, Pass It, Pass It, Pass It, Pass It,’ President Biden Says About A Bill The GOP Says Will Be Useful To Silence LGBTQ Voices

The bill is KOSA, the Kids Online Safety Act -- which has support from plenty of Democrats as well as Republicans.

If you're in the US, please contact Congress today if at all possible; the Senate Commerce Committee is voting on the bill tomorrow. https://www.stopkosa.com/ has a form if you want to send email, and also makes it easy to call.

Or look up your Senators' phone numbers here and call them directly. Tell them you want to oppose S. 1409, the Kids Online Safety Act because it won't help keep kids safe and it'll harm LGBTQ teens.

3 comments
  • So I read parts of the bill, seen here:

    KOSA

    Nothing really jumps out as problematic for me. It’s preventing harmful content from being advertised to via social media to children, but not stopping kids from independently researching things. They even go as far as to mention gambling, so KOSA could kill loot boxes in gaming.

    Nothing really seems like it’s targeting 🏳️‍🌈, but I didn’t do follow ups on:

    (10) SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE.—The term “sexual exploitation and abuse” means any of the following:
    (A) Coercion and enticement, as described in section 2422 of title 18, United States Code.
    (B) Child sexual abuse material, as described in sections 2251, 2252, 2252A, and 2260 of title 18, United States Code.
    (C) Trafficking for the production of images, as described in section 2251A of title 18, United States Code.
    (D) Sex trafficking of children, as described in section 1591 of title 18, United States Code.

    Not sure if something is hiding there. But again, it’s just preventing targeted content that could be harmful.

    (b) Limitation.—Nothing in subsection (a) shall be construed to require a covered platform to prevent or preclude—
    (1) any minor from deliberately and independently searching for, or specifically requesting, content; or
    (2) the covered platform or individuals on the platform from providing resources for the prevention or mitigation of suicidal behaviors, substance use, and other harms, including evidence-informed information and clinical resources.