Blackburn’s memo pushed back against various arguments made by some leading tech companies and lawmakers opposed to the bill’s current form.
It comes as the legislation faces an uncertain future in the House after overwhelmingly passing in the Senate earlier this year with a 91-3 vote.
The bill would create regulations for the kinds of features tech and social media companies offer kids online and intends to reduce the addictive nature and mental health impact of these platforms.
Blackburn, the co-author of the Senate-passed version, wrote that KOSA does not censor speech nor violate the First Amendment — concerns raised by some House Republicans.
“KOSA would not censor, limit, or remove any content from the internet and it does not give the [Federal Trade Commission (FTC)] or state AGs the power to bring lawsuits over content or speech, no matter who it is from,” the memo stated.
The bill would not give any new “rulemaking power” to FTC, Blackburn wrote in response to some Republicans’ concerns it would give the agency too much authority to regulate social media platforms.
“Claims that KOSA allows the FTC to decide what kids see online are blatant falsehoods circulated by tech companies trying to stop the bill from becoming law,” Blackburn wrote. “The bill gives the FTC the ability to hold social media accountable for their product designs — their own predatory business practices and deadly apps.”
While the bill advanced out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee last month, members in both parties expressed concerns with its language, for different reasons.
Some lawmakers were concerned about KOSA’s “duty of care” provision.
As written in the Senate version, the provision would require platforms to design and implement features for minors to prevent and reduce harms, such as those caused by content promoting suicide and eating disorders.
Read more on the memo and where KOSA stands at TheHill.com.
