Microsoft and X support KOSA, the controversial child online safety bill

Microsoft and X have announced their support for KOSA, the controversial bill that aims to protect children from harm online. The bill, currently being debated in Congress, would require online platforms to implement age verification systems, content moderation policies and parental controls. The bill has faced criticism from civil liberties groups, who argue that it would infringe on free speech, privacy and innovation.

In a joint statement, Microsoft and X said they believe KOSA is a necessary step to ensure the safety and well-being of children online. They said they have been working with lawmakers and stakeholders to provide feedback and suggestions on how to improve the bill. They also said they have been investing in their own technologies and tools to help parents and children navigate the online world safely and responsibly.

Microsoft and X are not the only tech giants to have expressed support for KOSA. Earlier this month, Y and Z also issued statements in favor of the bill, saying they share the goal of creating a safer, more secure and reliable Internet for all. However, some smaller platforms and industry groups have opposed the bill, saying it would impose costly and unrealistic burdens on them and harm the diversity and creativity of the online ecosystem.

The KOSA debate reflects growing concern about the impact of online harm on children, especially in the wake of the pandemic, which has increased their exposure to digital devices and platforms. According to a recent Pew Research Center report, 59% of parents say they are very or somewhat concerned about their children’s online safety, while 48% say they are very or somewhat concerned about their children’s exposure to inappropriate or harmful content.

KOSA is not the first attempt to regulate online platforms in the name of child protection. In 1998, Congress passed the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which requires online services to obtain parental consent before collecting personal information from children under 13. In 2019, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) fined Google $170 million for violating COPPA by Collecting data from children on YouTube without parental consent.

However, KOSA goes beyond COPPA in terms of scope and requirements. It would apply to any online platform that can be accessed by children under the age of 18, regardless of whether they collect personal information or not. It would also force online platforms to take proactive steps to prevent, detect and remove harmful content, such as cyberbullying, sexual exploitation, self-harm, hate speech and misinformation. It would also allow parents to set limits and preferences for their children’s online activities, such as time spent, content viewed and contacts made.

Supporters of KOSA say it is a long overdue and necessary update to existing laws protecting children online. They say it would create a more consistent and comprehensive framework for online platforms to follow, and give parents more control and choice over their children’s online experiences. They also say it would incentivize online platforms to innovate and compete on safety features, rather than engagement metrics.

Critics of KOSA say it is a misguided and overreaching attempt to regulate speech and expression online. They say it would violate the First Amendment rights of both children and adults by censoring legal and legitimate content that some may consider harmful. They also say it would violate the Fourth Amendment rights of both children and adults by exposing their personal data and online activities to third parties without their consent. They also say it would stifle innovation and competition in the online sector by imposing unique standards that favor large, established platforms over small, emerging ones.

The passage refers to a recent event in which Microsoft expressed support for the Child Online Safety Act (KOSA), a controversial bill aimed at protecting children from the potential dangers of social networking. This statement was made during a hearing involving five CEOs of major technology companies, including X (formerly Twitter), where they were asked whether their companies would support the KOSA legislation.

Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X, responded in the affirmative, stating that they support KOSA and will work to ensure its acceleration, emphasizing a commitment to providing a platform for teens seeking a voice. The response was noteworthy as it lacked the qualifiers used by some of the other CEOs. Although KOSA is not yet law, the statement indicated X’s support for the bill.

In a subsequent statement to TechCrunch, X confirmed its support for KOSA and a spokesperson said, «We support the Child Online Safety Act and will work to preserve free speech for all groups.» This development aligns Microsoft and X with the push for online safety measures, particularly for children, amid growing concerns about the impact of social networks on their well-being.