Oppose the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA)

I am writing to urge you to oppose the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which has been reintroduced in Congress. While this legislation is presented as protecting children online, it would instead create a dangerous framework for government censorship of legal speech. KOSA passed the Senate in 2024 during the previous congressional term but failed in the House because Republican leadership recognized it could be weaponized to silence political viewpoints. Despite claims that the bill has been revised to address censorship concerns, the language remains vague and subject to broad government interpretation. The bill requires online platforms to mitigate harm to children, but provides no clear definition of what constitutes harm, leaving enforcement entirely to the Federal Trade Commission. The current administration has stacked the FTC with partisan commissioners who have already launched political investigations into media organizations critical of the administration. These commissioners have signaled their intent to help conservative advocates block content related to abortion rights, gender-affirming care, and other topics they oppose. Under KOSA, tech companies would face pressure to preemptively censor content to avoid FTC action, effectively turning private platforms into arms of government speech control. Using child safety as justification for restricting speech is a well-worn tactic that has historically led to overreach and abuse. KOSA would not prevent children from accessing inappropriate content. Instead, it would give government officials the power to determine what information Americans of all ages can access online based on partisan political priorities. I ask you to oppose KOSA and any similar legislation that threatens free expression under the guise of protection. Our constitutional rights cannot be sacrificed to vague enforcement mechanisms controlled by partisan actors. Please stand against this bill and protect the open internet that allows for diverse viewpoints and information access.