If passed, this would be the most significant overhaul to children’s online safety protections in the United States. If passed, KOSA could deliver a much-needed paradigmatic shift to online safety legislation. If adopted, this change would be the most important since COPPA was enacted in 1998.
Reintroduced on May 14, 2025, at 2:14 PM PDT, KOSA seeks to address growing concerns about children’s safety in digital spaces. Proponents maintain that the legislation is necessary with more and more children engaging with online platforms. This bill being introduced at this important time is an example that everyone can appreciate. Stakeholders from all sides are calling for greater protections from harmful content for underage users.
Timothy Powderly, Apple’s newish Senior Director of Government Affairs, said the company was “all in” on the proposed legislation. Fleer added that protecting children online will take a group effort from everyone, including lawmakers and the platforms themselves.
“Apple is pleased to offer our support for the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). 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,” – Timothy Powderly, Apple’s Senior Director of Government Affairs.
This claim was quoted in the official press release on the website for one of the bill’s sponsors, Senator Marsha Blackburn. She and other legislators point out that KOSA’s intention is protecting minors while dealing with the realities of new digital communication.
Not all groups view KOSA favorably. As a result, numerous critics have voiced concerns about its potential implications for free speech. One advocacy group, Fight for the Future, brought attention to such fears while declaring,
“The bill’s authors have claimed over and over 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,” – Fight for the Future.
The landscape of the online safety conversation is constantly shifting. Technology companies, lawmakers, and advocacy groups are sure to be closely watching the fate of KOSA as it proceeds through Congress.
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