1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I am writing to strongly urge you to oppose the SCREEN Act, the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), and the Interstate Obscenity Definition Act (IODA). Each of these bills represents a serious threat to free speech, free expression, and the open nature of the internet. The SCREEN Act would give government agencies and corporations broad power to control what online platforms can publish and host. KOSA, while framed as a measure to protect minors, would in practice result in widespread censorship of lawful content, particularly material related to LGBTQ+ communities, sexual health, and other topics that are often mischaracterized as harmful. The IODA Act would impose a one-size-fits-all federal standard for obscenity that could suppress art, literature, and other lawful creative works. These bills share a common problem. They grant authorities the power to decide what information people may access or share, placing legitimate educational and artistic expression at risk. Once such restrictions are in place, they can be expanded to target any unpopular or minority viewpoint. Our country’s democratic principles depend on protecting speech that some may find controversial or uncomfortable. I urge you to defend these principles and reject legislation that undermines them. Please oppose the SCREEN Act, KOSA, and IODA in any form. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.