Alright, it's official. The dangerous & misguided Kids Online Safety Act (#KOSA) will go to a "mark up" vote in the House Energy & Commerce Committee this morning, Thursday, May 23. THIS IS JUST A SUBCOMMITTEE VOTE. WE CAN STILL STOP OR FIX THIS BILL! https://www.stopkosa.com
This US bill could push mandatory age-verification on all major platforms (meaning you would have to give your ID to someone likely to abuse or not protect very well your sensitive data).
Imagine how more horrible and more unsafe that could make the internet.
Imagine how much worse that would be for any marginalized groups.
Imagine how much that could endanger vulnerable people.
Imagine how destructive that would be for anyone’s #privacy.
Das Akronym steht für "Kids online safety act" und soll das Ziel haben Kinder im Internet zu schützen. Es soll elterliche Aufsicht stärken, den Zugang für Minderjährige zu Social Media einschränken und Verhindern, dass Kinder gefährlichen Content sehen.
Dies geht aber so weit, dass die Bestimmungen so weitgreifend sind, dass damit ein umfassender Zensur-Apparat entstehen könnte..
1: "Well, you have to give your social security number, a picture of the weakest part of your skull, and your home address to Hammers The Clown. You also have to download COVID 19 into your eyeball once per month."
2:"What that sounds terrible what does that have to do with--"
1:"Wow. Ok. HEY EVERYONE THIS GUY HATES CHILDREN!!!!!!!"
BREAKING: Politico reports that Senator Cantwell says she will delay hotlining the Kids Online Safety Act (#KOSA) because of ongoing concerns around LGBTQ rights and the need for further changes.
This is an important win for human rights. But we have so much more to do
Inside intel + expectations on the #KOSA committee vote today: they’re probably going to pass it out of committee. But! They’re shaking in their boots thanks to the thousands of people who are calling them out. What we’re doing is WORKING, and the fight is far from over.
Does anyone have a link to a summary of the #KOSA bill (and its harms) that cites the actual bill? I'm not denying that it's harmful; I'm frustrated with the fact that no article I've seen so far has backed up its claims by quoting the actual text.
As a resident of #Connecticut I wrote my Senator, the coauthor of #kosa, about my opposition.
"Dear Senator,
I am opposed to the current KOSA bill and I ask you to not promote it further.
As part of a team that develops software and as a user of relatively small and open source social platforms, I worry that the broad language around age verification will pressure sites to practice age verification en masse as the least risky way to ensure compliance..."
Microsoft endorses anti-LGBTQ online "child safety" bill KOSA night before Big Tech hearing (US Politics)
Worth noting: Microsoft owns LinkedIn, which wouldn't be particularly affected by KOSA.
There's a hearing on Wednesday, and potentially a Senate vote soon, so if you're in the US now's a good time to contact your Senators. https://stopkosa.com and EFF's page make it easy!
🚨@CenDemTech appreciates the efforts made by Sen Blumenthal and other co-sponsors to make changes to #KOSA. Overall, the changes improve the bill — but many of our concerns related to overcensorship of content valuable to young people still remain.
It's wild that all the #LGBTQ nonprofits are suddenly on board with #KOSA. Big mistake they will come to regret. Why do we keep handing more power to our government even as fascists attempt to take over?
NEW: More than 100 parents of transgender kids have penned an open letter urging lawmakers and advocacy groups to abandon the dangerous and misguided Kids Online Safety Act (#KOSA) and instead support alternative measures to address the harm of Big Tech.
"Big Tech is hurting our kids. KOSA would hurt them even more." the parents write. Lawmakers and pro-#KOSA advocacy groups need to listen.