A Bipartisan Effort Gains Momentum as Musk and Yaccarino Work to Address Free Speech Concerns in Effort to Safeguard Children Online
Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X (formerly Twitter), and Elon Musk have thrown their weight behind the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), urging its passage in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill, which aims to impose a legal “duty of care” on social media platforms to protect children from dangers such as sexual abuse, drug addiction, and harmful online stunts, passed the Senate last July with overwhelming support but has faced challenges in the House, where some Republican lawmakers are concerned it could be used to censor free speech.
Yaccarino, in a post on X, emphasized the progress made in refining the bill’s language to ensure it safeguards minors without infringing on the First Amendment. She wrote, “After working with the bill authors, I’m proud to share that we’ve made progress to further protect freedom of speech while maintaining safety for minors online.” Yaccarino called for Congress to pass the bill before the year’s end.
Musk echoed Yaccarino’s sentiments, underscoring the importance of prioritizing child protection while maintaining free speech rights. He wrote, “Protecting kids should always be priority #1,” reinforcing his commitment to the bill’s goals.
This strong support from Musk and Yaccarino comes at a pivotal moment, with just two weeks remaining in Congress’s current session to pass KOSA before other pressing legislative matters, such as funding the U.S. government, take center stage.
Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who co-sponsored KOSA, praised the collaboration, noting that the changes to the bill’s language address concerns about potential censorship. They expressed gratitude for Musk and Yaccarino’s leadership, which they believe will help push the bill over the finish line.
Despite these efforts, the bill faces resistance from some House Republicans, including Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), who have not scheduled a floor vote. Critics argue that powerful Big Tech companies like Google and Meta have lobbied against KOSA, warning that it could harm free speech, with some portraying the bill as potentially weaponized to silence conservative or LGBTQ+ voices.
As the debate intensifies, the support from Musk and Yaccarino provides a significant push, signaling to lawmakers that KOSA is a step toward balancing child safety and the preservation of online freedoms. With bipartisan backing and continued advocacy from key figures, the bill may still find its way to a vote before Congress adjourns.
