Musk Endorsed Kids Online Safety Act—It Still Faces Challenges Ahead
The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), a bipartisan initiative aimed at enhancing online protections for minors, has garnered support from prominent figures, including Elon Musk and X CEO Linda Yaccarino. The legislation seeks to impose a duty of care on tech platforms to prevent and mitigate harms such as mental health issues and online bullying among children. Despite passing the Senate with overwhelming support, KOSA faces challenges in the House of Representatives, particularly from Republican leaders concerned about potential censorship and unintended consequences. Recent amendments, developed in collaboration with X, aim to address these concerns by clarifying that the bill cannot be used to enforce duty of care based on users’ viewpoints and by narrowing the scope related to anxiety and depressive disorders. Advocates urge prompt passage to strengthen online safety for children while safeguarding free speech.
