With only weeks remaining in the legislative calendar before Congress adjourns, X CEO Linda Yaccarino announced her collaboration with the authors of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) to amend the bill in an apparent effort to secure the support of Republican leaders in the House, whose opposition has stalled its passage.
This announcement highlights how Elon Musk and his companies are increasingly involved in shaping governmental decisions. While it’s not uncommon for companies and external stakeholders to influence pending legislation, the acknowledgment of X’s input by the bill’s sponsors—Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)—signals its perceived value in improving the bill’s chances of becoming law.
“Led by X, the new changes made to the Kids Online Safety Act strengthen the bill while safeguarding free speech online and ensuring it is not used to stifle expression,” Blumenthal and Blackburn said in a joint statement. “These changes should eliminate once and for all the false narrative that this bill would be weaponized by unelected bureaucrats to censor Americans. We thank Elon and Linda for their bold leadership and commitment to protecting children online and for helping us get this bill across the finish line this Congress.”
KOSA is designed to enhance internet safety for children by mandating that tech platforms adopt a duty of care to prevent and reduce specific harms associated with features like photo filters and infinite scroll. The Senate passed the bill with overwhelming support over the summer, but it has since stalled in the House. Critics of the bill worry it could be misused to suppress unpopular speech or lead to a more restricted internet as platforms attempt to avoid legal liability.
The recent amendments to the bill aim to address these concerns. One key change clarifies that the bill cannot be used to enforce a platform’s duty of care based on user viewpoints protected by the First Amendment. Additionally, the duty of care related to anxiety and depressive disorders has been narrowed, making it enforceable only when these conditions are “objectively verifiable” and tied to “compulsive usage.”
Yaccarino had previously expressed support for KOSA on behalf of X earlier this year, a stance that sets X apart from other tech giants like Meta and Google, whose CEOs have not offered the same level of endorsement. Supporters of the bill have pointed to resistance from the tech industry’s lobbying efforts as a major obstacle to its passage.
Beyond industry pushback, Republican leadership in the House presents another significant hurdle. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has voiced concerns about the bill’s details, despite agreeing with its principles. Speaking to Punchbowl News in October, he noted that while he supports the intent, he is apprehensive about “unintended consequences” stemming from the legislation. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) is reportedly even more skeptical, particularly regarding the scope of the duty of care outlined in the bill.
The amendments spearheaded by X are seen as a strategic attempt to address these concerns and pave the way for broader bipartisan support. By refining the bill’s language to safeguard free speech and limit its enforceability to specific, measurable circumstances, proponents hope to alleviate fears of overreach and increase its appeal among hesitant lawmakers.
KOSA’s core objective of creating a safer online environment for children aligns with growing public and political demand for greater accountability among tech platforms. However, the balance between protecting young users and preserving the openness of the internet remains a contentious issue. The revised bill represents a compromise that seeks to address these competing priorities, but whether it will be enough to overcome the legislative gridlock in the House remains uncertain.
As the legislative session draws to a close, the push to advance KOSA underscores the evolving role of tech companies like X in influencing public policy. While the involvement of private entities in shaping legislation is not new, the prominence of X and its leaders in this process reflects the growing intersection of technology and governance. For now, the fate of KOSA hangs on whether these latest efforts can sway skeptical lawmakers and navigate the complexities of Capitol Hill.