1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

I urge you to oppose the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and similar legislation. While protecting children online matters, KOSA creates far greater dangers than it solves. One of my big issues is that KOSA requires age verification systems that force platforms to collect and store sensitive ID information from millions of people. This creates massive cybersecurity risks and when breaches happen, those people's identities will be stolen and sold including that of minors. The bill also enables unprecedented surveillance, linking real identities to online behavior in ways that will be exploited by advertisers, data brokers, and future governments. Most dangerously, age verification removes anonymity for the vulnerable. Young people fleeing abuse, experiencing homelessness, or exploring their identity depend on anonymous internet access. KOSA puts them in physical danger. The bill's vague "duty of care" standard will force platforms to over-censor lawful speech. Rather than risk lawsuits, they'll remove mental health forums, LGBTQ+ support communities, and sexual health information. Young people will lose access to the resources they need most. I urge you to support comprehensive federal privacy legislation, transparency requirements for algorithms, and funding for digital literacy instead. These protect children without sacrificing privacy and free speech. Vote no on KOSA.