NEW: More than 90 #humanrights and #LGBTQ groups have sent a letter to Congressional leadership opposing #KOSA the poorly named and terribly drafted "Kids Online Safety Act," which would make kids less safe and harm marginalized communities. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/28/kids-online-safety-act-may-harm-minors-civil-society-groups-warn.html

Here's our press release: https://www.fightforthefuture.org/news/2022-11-28-new-more-than-90-human-rights-and-lgbtq-groups-sign-letter-opposing-kosa

Gonna xpost my #thread from the birdsite to add context.

This letter was led by CDT, EFF, and @team

There have been widespread rumors that Senator Blumenthal (D-CT) and other Dems are pushing hard to include this disastrous bill in the "must pass" omnibus spending package.

That cannot and must not happen. This bill would be weaponized by rightwing AGs to target LGBTQ+ community online.

#KOSA has a lot of the same problems as #SESTA / #FOSTA and the #EARNitAct. It creates broad, poorly defined legal requirements that involve the government in dictating content moderation and content recommendation practices, and then leaves it up to state AGs to enforce.

It's not hard to imagine how an AG like #KenPaxton, or the AG of #Arkansas who is currently on a mission to attack #trans and #nonbinary kids, will interpret this new authority. They'll use it to demand that platforms #censor #LGBTQ+ content and ban kids and teens from accessing it.

Online community is a lifeline for many LGBTQ+ teens and young people, especially those with unsupportive or abusive parents. #KOSA would rip that away from them, while subjecting them to further surveillance and invasion. That's prob the point for bill sponsor
Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), who regularly attacks #transgender kids and teens as part of her speeches. The right wing Heritage Foundation is openly saying this will "stop Big Tech from making kids trans." Barf.

#KOSA would also weaken the digital security of young people by effectively forcing platforms to conduct identity verification (some 3rd party providers are already chomping at the bit to do this with facial recognition, get your face scanned every time you visit a site) @mmasnick wrote about this: https://www.techdirt.com/2022/08/29/age-verification-providers-say-dont-worry-about-california-design-code-youll-just-have-to-scan-your-face-for-every-website-you-visit/

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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has been going around claiming there is "no opposition" to #KOSA. This letter should put that lie to rest. Dozens of organizations signed including the #ACLU, GLAAD, GLSEN, National Center for Transgender Equality, Black and Pink, Access Now, American Library Association, The Human Trafficking Prevention Project, Reframe Health and Justice, Woodhull Freedom Foundation, Ranking Digital Rights, #Wikimedia Foundation, #TorProject, and lots more

Notably, a lot of LGBTQ groups from red and purple states signed on. These groups understand how right wing AGs and state legislatures will weaponize poorly drafted legislation like #KOSA against marginalized people.

Here's the full letter and list of signers https://www.fightforthefuture.org/news/2022-11-28-letter-90-lgbtq-and-human-rights-organizations-oppose-kosa

If you want to add your name / make your voice heard against #KOSA you can sign this petition we're hosting @team. Be sure to call your Senators too and tell them to oppose #KOSA / S. 3663. https://www.fightforthefuture.org/actions/surveillance-doesnt-make-kids-safe