New technologies intersect with every policy area, and rapid technological advancements and changes often leave policy makers feeling as if they need to play keep-up. We’ve seen this in the legislative balancing act of whether and how much to regulate or incentivize artificial intelligence and the instinctive mistrust of “big tech” companies expressed by many Americans. But a unique sense of urgency is present when it comes to more sensitive topics, such as the safety of children.
Several states have proposed measures to protect kids from harmful online content. While well-intentioned in their aims, some of these bills threaten individual liberty and parental rights. The same issues exist at the federal level as well, with the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) currently being considered by the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation would threaten parents’ rights to oversee what their children access on the internet and place the authority of regulating what kids can and cannot see online in the hands of the federal government. This is a case of Washington trying to govern the states where it has no place to do so.
In addition to being an overreach of federal power, KOSA would set a highly concerning precedent for future regulations that could stifle Georgians’ first amendment rights. While we can all agree that protecting children online is a growing priority in the digital age, KOSA is not the way to achieve that goal.
If it passes, KOSA would open the door for political censorship, creating the opportunity for government bodies like the Federal Trade Commission to suppress viewpoints and values its appointed members don’t believe in. This kind of censorship from the government would infringe on our first amendment rights to speak freely and publicly online. Parents should have the authority to help their children navigate the internet without influence from the government’s ideological biases.
On top of granting the government excessive power, KOSA takes away parents’ right to decide what is and isn’t safe for their children. While the goal of the legislation is good-natured, KOSA takes a one-size-fits-all approach in determining what content is accessible for children. This is not the appropriate solution in creating a safer online environment for children. The federal government is not, and will never be, a substitute for parents who best understand the unique needs of their children. We should focus on raising online awareness and empowering parents to use safety precautions when allowing their children to surf the web instead of relying on flawed legislation that violates the fundamental freedom to raise kids as you see fit.
Moreover, KOSA raises the potential for increased government surveillance on both children and parents’ online activity. To comply with this law, tech companies would be forced to implement invasive age verification methods and data collection tools, resulting in the increased tracking of internet users. This undermines privacy and could even lead to an uptick of data privacy crime, putting entire families at risk.
The internet is a bountiful resource for learning, creativity and social interaction for kids, especially in the digital age of rapidly advancing technology we’re living in. Protecting children online is a goal everyone can agree on, but simply put, KOSA is the wrong path forward. Rather than passing unsound legislation like KOSA, we should advocate for more support and resources for parents to create the safest online environment for children possible, without imposing sweeping regulations that breach parental autonomy and our fundamental personal freedoms..