Thread by @evan_greer

URGENT: We've just heard that @SenBlumenthal and @MarshaBlackburn plan to reintroduce the controversial Kids Online Safety Act (#KOSA) tomorrow.

They will say that they've engaged with LGBTQ groups (true) and addressed all concerns with the bill (NOT TRUE!!!)

Here's what's up:

When #KOSA was first introduced more than 100 human rights and LGBTQ organizations signed on to a letter that we organized explaining how this bill would be a disaster for LGBTQ rights, free expression, and kids safety. cnbc.com/2022/11/28/kid…

Realizing they had a problem @SenBlumenthal staff basically went behind the backs of the folks who organized that letter (mostly trans people with significant expertise in content moderation, tech policy, algorithmic harm, etc) and met with several LGBTQ groups without us.

We were not invited to any of those meetings and neither were folks from @ACLU @EFF or other organizations that could have explained the 1st amendment and LGBTQ rights concerns with KOSA and where it's still falling short even with significant changes.

When I started hearing that there was a new version of #KOSA circulating that "addressed all the concerns" in our letter, I asked Blumenthal's office several times for the text.

They never sent it. Conveniently that made it impossible to explain why the changes are insufficient

Anyhow, I finally got a copy of the bill that I assume is the latest version (not from @SenBlumenthal's office)

And, if is the most current version, I can tell you unequivocally that it DOES NOT ADDRESS THE CONCERNS RAISED IN OUR LETTER

Here's the text: drive.google.com/file/d/1VsiXVw…

Throughout the bill I can see changes that the sponsors have made. I think some of these changes were made in good faith and attempt to address the concerns that we've raised. Like adding this language:

But, as we've explained numerous times, the fatal flaw with KOSA is the duty of care itself that applies to content recommendation. As long as that remains, this bill allows state attorneys general (think: Ken Paxton) to dictate what content can be recommended to which users.

The changes to #KOSA make sense on paper, but they won't prevent harm to LGBTQ youth, abortion rights, privacy, and free expression that we're concerned about. This bill will still lead to widespread censorship of LGBTQ resources for minors.

And not just LGBTQ resources. At scale, a platform like YouTube is not going to try to distinguish between a video that's "promoting" eating disorders or bullying and a video where young people are just *talking about* their experiences with those things. They'll suppress it all.

In a quest to protect kids from "bad" content, we'll end up cutting them off from lifesaving resources and information and silencing their voices and ability to communicate with each other about their experiences, organize for a better future. That makes kids less safe, not more.

So, TL;DR:

#KOSA is still a terrible bill that threatens human rights and will harm LGBTQ youth especially.

KOSA sponsors intentionally sidelined groups with expertise in this issue area in an attempt to dilute opposition while refusing to share the bill text with stakeholders

Tomorrow KOSA supporters will come out loudly proclaiming that the concerns about LGBTQ rights have been addressed and the bill is ready to move full steam ahead.

That's a reprehensible lie that puts vulnerable kids and everyone's human rights in danger. Don't buy it.

Now hearing conflicting reports on whether they'll actually reintroduce tomorrow or not. I guess we'll find out! 🤷‍♀️