The battle over the Kids Online Safety Act has intensified as Big Tech companies, including Meta and Alphabet, have spent nearly $90 million to block the legislation. The bill, designed to hold social media platforms accountable for protecting children from online harm, faces fierce opposition from these tech giants, who argue that the “duty of care” provision in the bill would expose them to legal liability.
The bill, which passed the Senate with bipartisan support, is focused on protecting children from cyberbullying, addiction, and exploitation on social media platforms. However, Big Tech is fighting back, spending millions of dollars in lobbying efforts to persuade lawmakers to oppose the bill. Their main concern is the provision that would impose legal responsibility on social media companies for the harm their platforms cause to minors.
In an attempt to prevent the bill’s passage, Big Tech has created divisions within Congress, using cultural issues like abortion and LGBTQ+ rights to stoke fears among lawmakers. Progressives are being warned that the bill could lead to censorship of LGBTQ+ content, while conservatives are being told it could result in the suppression of pro-life speech. This divide-and-conquer strategy has worked to slow the bill’s momentum, even though it has widespread support from parents and child safety advocates.
Meta has also proposed an alternative to the bill’s provisions, suggesting that parental consent be required for minors to download apps. This shift in responsibility from the tech companies to parents would allow social media platforms to avoid the legal accountability outlined in the bill.
Despite the lobbying efforts, many lawmakers and child safety advocates are pushing for the bill’s passage. Parents who have lost children to social media-related suicides continue to speak out in favor of the bill, arguing that it is crucial for protecting future generations from the dangers of online platforms.
The outcome of this battle will determine whether Big Tech continues to have the upper hand in shaping online policy or whether lawmakers will prioritize the safety of children above corporate interests.
