WASHINGTON—Today, the Senate Commerce Committee will mark up the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA). While there are some good components and the Senators are rightly prioritizing creating a safer online environment for young Americans, this bill falls short of such a goal.
“KOSMA comes from very good intentions of lawmakers, and establishing national screen time standards for schools is sensible. However, the bill’s in-effect requirements on access to protected information jeopardize all Americans’ digital privacy and endanger free speech online,” said Amy Bos, NetChoice Director of State & Federal Affairs. “To advance the important goal of protecting kids online without undermining privacy and fundamental American freedoms, policymakers should work with companies on educational initiatives for digital safety and ensure law enforcement has the necessary resources to investigate predators, prosecute them and keep them off the streets—and off the internet.”
If passed, KOSMA would in-effect require all Americans—regardless of age—to submit sensitive, personal documentation to access online services. This is a serious threat to cybersecurity, especially at a time when the federal government and state governments are facing increased hacks. Children are additionally the number one targets of identity thieves. Under KOSMA, online services would become honeypots for criminals and bad actors to target and exploit.
The bill also conditions Americans’ access to protected free speech and information on whether they are willing to submit personal documentation to online services, creating constitutional problems.
Despite these pitfalls, KOSMA does have positive components, including requiring schools that receive federal funding to adopt screen time policies and make those policies publicly available. This increases transparency and empowers parents to make informed decisions about their children’s technology use.
Congress can enhance the safety and security of kids—and all Americans—online, and NetChoice is enthusiastic to work with lawmakers on a meaningful and legal solution. However, KOSMA and bills like it that in-effect require the collection of massive amounts of data on Americans and their children will ultimately fail to achieve that goal.
Please contact press@netchoice.org with inquiries.