The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) has been reintroduced to Congress, proposing significant legislative changes to the internet in the U.S. since the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) of 1998. If enacted, this bill could have far-reaching implications for online safety.

As currently drafted, KOSA would hold social media platforms legally responsible if they fail to adequately protect minors from harm. The bill identifies various potential harms, including eating disorders, sexual exploitation, substance abuse, and suicide. Although it passed overwhelmingly in the Senate last year, the bill stalled in the House.

Since its introduction in 2022, KOSA has faced significant backlash. Human rights groups, such as the ACLU, have raised concerns that the bill could be used as a tool for censorship and surveillance.

While amendments to KOSA have addressed some of these concerns, organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Fight for the Future remain opposed to the bill. According to Fight for the Future, “The bill’s authors claim that this bill doesn’t impact speech, but the Duty of Care is about speech: it’s about blocking speech that the government believes is bad for kids.” They also stated that “the people determining what speech is harmful are the same ones using every tool to silence marginalized communities and attack those they perceive as enemies,” as mentioned in a statement.

Despite the opposition, KOSA has gained support from companies like Microsoft, Snap, and X. X CEO Linda Yaccarino collaborated with Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) on the latest draft of the bill. Although Google and Meta remain opposed, Apple has announced its support for the legislation.

Timothy Powderly, Apple’s senior director of Government Affairs, expressed the company’s support for KOSA, stating, “Everyone has a part to play in keeping kids safe online, and we believe this legislation will have a meaningful impact on children’s online safety,” as mentioned in a statement.