Washington, D.C. – The Senate will vote this week on a pair of “online safety” bills after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer rushed procedure on The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and Children’s and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0), despite concerns about civil liberties and consumer choice brought forward by many members and advocacy groups, including the Consumer Choice Center (CCC).
Stephen Kent, Media Director for the Consumer Choice Center, reacted to the breaking news of KOSA finally being brought before the Senate:
“Proponents of this bill will call it a “common sense” solution, but the long and messy road to KOSA getting a vote is evidence of how untrue this is. KOSA and COPPA 2.0 are vast expansions of the government’s role in online interactions and speech between both minors and adults. KOSA will require businesses to collect sensitive information on their users they don’t want to hold, and condition access to information based on age. This will face serious Constitutional challenges.”
<< Read Stephen Kent in Reason and Yahoo! on why consumers should not “co-parent with Congress” under the Kids Online Safety Act >>
The Consumer Choice Center is calling on US lawmakers to reject this false choice between “protecting kids online” and doing nothing about online safety, which greatly concerns parents across America. “KOSA is a Trojan Horse for online censorship by both parties who are equally frustrated with social media for political reasons. Consumers don’t need this kind of sweeping legislation to protect kids online at the expense of civil liberties,” concluded Stephen Kent.
There are better options for consumers both young and old than KOSA and COPPA 2.0:
- A federal privacy bill is still needed in the US, one that promotes strong encryption protections and data portability. KOSA and COPPA will build a system that makes sensitive consumer data even more vulnerable to hacks.
- Consumers have many options on the market for devices that shield kids from objectionable content and give parents the control they need. CCC has outlined great devices for kids and parents to use, without giving authority over online life to Congress.
- Unconstitutional laws don’t keep consumers safe. Congress should not rush through KOSA before the August recess while so many constitutional questions remain about the impact of this proposed law.
Senator Schumer will begin the legislative process for KOSA and COPPA 2.0 today in the Senate, and final passage will likely not occur until next week.
###
For interview requests and further comments, please contact:
Stephen Kent
Media Director
stephen@consumerchoicecenter.org
About the Consumer Choice Center:
The Consumer Choice Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to defending the rights of consumers around the world. Our mission is to promote freedom of choice, healthy competition, and evidence-based policies that benefit consumers. We work to ensure that consumers have access to a variety of quality products and services and can make informed decisions about their lifestyle and consumption. Find out more at www.consumerchoicecenter.org