WASHINGTON—Today, the U.S. Senate will vote on the “Kids Online Safety Act,” which faces broad opposition from many groups across the ideological spectrum due to the cybersecurity, data privacy and constitutional issues it would create while handing vast power to the federal government over the online experience.
NetChoice urges senators to vote no on KOSA for Americans and their families.
“Congress has good intentions in wanting to address online issues, especially concerning children. However, parents need solutions that are meaningful, helpful and legal. KOSA fails to meet basic constitutional principles and fails parents because it won’t make a single child safer online or address their concerns. Taking away parents’ and guardians’ authority and choice, while forcing them to give up their and their children’s personal information to access and engage in free speech, is both dangerous and a violation of their rights,” said Carl Szabo, NetChoice Vice President & General Counsel.
Szabo continued: “Senators should vote no on KOSA today and consider better policy solutions like funding law enforcement to appropriately prosecute online predators through the bipartisan Invest in Child Safety Act. NetChoice has several additional recommendations that we’d love to work on with members to tackle this issue. In the meantime, KOSA isn’t the way, and we urge senators not to support it.”
NetChoice currently has four injunctions against similar state laws related to KOSA. Read more about the rulings in those lawsuits and their implications for KOSA’s constitutionality here.
Instead of replacing parents, Congress should strengthen law enforcement to tackle cybercriminals targeting children, ensure existing federal laws are being properly enforced to stop online predators, and educate parents and children on best practices for online safety. Learn more about NetChoice’s constitutional recommendations for policymakers on online safety here.
Please contact press@netchoice.org with inquiries.