Over 100 Parents of Trans Kids Sign Letter Opposing KOSA (US-focused)
Over 100 Parents of Trans Kids Sign Letter Opposing KOSA (US-focused)
The letter pleads for Congress to abandon the "deeply flawed" Kids Online Safety Act.
The letter argues that the bill “would make our kids less safe, not more safe,” since the bill would grant state attorneys general the power to determine what content is “unsafe” for children.
“These are the same attorneys general that are actively working to ban gender affirming health care that saves kids’ lives, criminalize drag performances, and label families that accept our children as ‘groomers’ and ‘child abusers,’” the letter reads.
The letter concludes with a plea to “abandon KOSA, which is deeply flawed and faces overwhelming opposition from human rights, LGBTQ, racial justice, and civil liberties organizations.”
KOSA has bipartisan support, including from some Democrats who usually support LGBTQ rights. But it's not to late to stop it, we're just going to have to make some noise.
https://www.stopkosa.com/ makes it easy to contact your lawmakers if you’re in the US.
I wrote my Democratic senators about this nearly a month ago, and they really doubled down on why they support it!
For the curious (fingers crossed for formatting):
Dear ********,
Thank you for reaching out to my office. Keeping in touch with my constituents is my greatest priority, and I appreciate the opportunity to engage with you on such an important topic.
As the world becomes increasingly interconnected through the Internet, it is important that Congress considers the effects of computer networks on individual freedoms and acts to protect individuals’ personal information. Children and teenagers today use the Internet to learn, express themselves, and stay connected, and we must do the utmost possible to protect minors’ personal information from being manipulated and exploited by companies looking to turn a profit, while ignoring the consequences. That’s why it’s critical that Congress acts urgently to create legislative guardrails that give users control over their personal information while holding Big Tech accountable for harm to our young people’s health.
That’s why I am proud to support two vital pieces of legislation to protect children online that were reintroduced in the Senate in May of 2023. The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which I was proud to cosponsor, empowers kids and parents to take control over kids’ online experiences to better protect their health and well-being. The Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act updates online data privacy rules for the 21st century and ensures both children and teenagers are protected online. I also successfully fought to include amendments to both pieces of legislation to ensure that these increased protections extend to all children, regardless of the language they speak at home.
It is past time to pass comprehensive privacy legislation, and I am continuing to work with my colleagues to bring these vital bills to keep our kids safe to the Senate floor this Congress.
Once again, thank you for expressing your concerns on this important matter. I am humbled to serve ****** in the Senate, and I look forward to continuing to hear from you. I hope you will consider keeping in contact with me by subscribing to my newsletter here. If you are looking for assistance navigating a federal agency, or would like to speak to a member of my staff in ******, please visit my website here for more information.
Sincerely