KOSA sponsor appears to suggest bipartisan bill will censor transgender content online (US focused) (www.nbcnews.com)

submitted 1 year ago by jdp23@lemmy.blahaj.zone to c/lgbtq_plus@beehaw.org

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In a video recently published by the conservative group Family Policy Alliance, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., said “protecting minor children from the transgender in this culture” should be among the top priorities of conservative lawmakers....

In the same minute-and-a-half video, Blackburn lauded the Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA, a bipartisan bill introduced in May that would allow parents to sue social media companies and other online platforms if they do not sufficiently shield children under the age of 13 from harmful content on their platforms. The measure was introduced by Blackburn and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and has been endorsed by President Joe Biden.

https://www.stopkosa.com/ makes it easy to contact your lawmakers if you're in the US. It's not too late to stop KOSS -- but we're going to have to make some noise!

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[-] autotldr@lemmings.world 2 points 1 year ago

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While the video was first made public Friday, the interview took place in March at an event held by the Palmetto Family Council, a faith-based organization.

“However, KOSA has also emerged as a troubling point of divergence, pitting LGBTQ+ activists against organizations meant to represent their interests, as well as Democratic officials who have otherwise been vocal critics of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.”

Reed added that this “divide highlights the potential for a serious misstep by those who otherwise support transgender people and could result in significant harm for the community should it pass.”

When asked about Blackburn’s remarks and the subsequent response from transgender advocates, the bill’s lead Democratic sponsor, Sen. Blumenthal, said in an emailed statement on Tuesday that the Kids Online Safety Act “does not target or censor anyone, including members of the LGBTQ community.”

Biden expressed his support for the bill in remarks to reporters in July, saying, “We’ve got to hold these platforms accountable for the national experiment they’re conducting on our children for profit.”

Social media companies have largely come out in opposition to the Kids Online Safety Act and several other pieces of proposed legislation recently introduced in Congress to regulate their platforms.

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