1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

The rollout of the UK's Online Safety Act mandating age verification has been nothing short of disastrous, leading to widespread overcensorship and loss of access to important online spaces. This policy has restricted UK users' ability to engage with communities discussing sexual health, LGBTQ+ issues, politics, and education – matters of vital public interest that should not be censored. It exemplifies the grave implications of age verification regimes and internet censorship more broadly. As drafted, the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) in the U.S. raises significant free speech concerns by potentially enabling similar suppression of lawful online expression. We cannot accept a future where access to the open internet is curtailed under the guise of protecting children. There are better ways to keep young people safe online that do not involve compromising privacy, anonymity, and the free flow of information. I urge you to oppose KOSA and any federal legislation that would mandate age verification or enable widespread censorship of the internet. We must uphold the First Amendment and prevent the establishment of a censored, gated internet that undermines open discourse. The UK's struggles make clear the imperative to get this right and avoid harming digital rights here at home. I implore you to stand against internet censorship and uphold constitutional freedoms.