The Kids Online Safety Act Denies Young People’s Freedoms of Expression and Privacy (Library Futures)

KOSA is another attempt at transforming and restricting online privacy and is very similar to other bills such as the EARN IT Bill or the RESTRICT ACT, which also claim to protect young people. All of these bills, however, disproportionately affect marginalized communities and make them more vulnerable to surveillance.

KOSA would give state attorney generals the power to sue any website that provides information that is deemed inappropriate for minors, which is incredibly dangerous in an era of increased book bans and censorship campaigns. KOSA would also allow parents and state governments to restrict online information about sexuality and any other topic they find inappropriate. KOSA could make it more dangerous for LGBTQ+ activists to share content online, as they are often falsely accused of “grooming” minors simply for discussing LGBTQ+ topics.