Chatbots from both Meta and OpenAI have come under scrutiny in recent weeks, raising questions about how to protect young users from potential harms caused by the rapid development of AI.
Several whistleblowers also came forward with new allegations about Meta’s handling of safety research, underscoring issues that have plagued tech companies with large platforms for years.
The latest developments have prompted senators from both sides of the aisle to renew calls to pass the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), legislation aimed at strengthening online protections for children that has faced roadblocks in previous sessions.
“There is truly bipartisan anger, not only with Meta, but with these other social media platforms and virtual reality platforms and chatbots that are intentionally, knowingly harming our children, and this has got to stop,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) said at a hearing Tuesday. “Enough is enough.”
KOSA came close to clearing Congress last year, after passing the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support in July 2024.
However, it came up short in the House, where some Republican members voiced concerns about the potential for censorship of conversative views.
In an eleventh-hour effort to get the bill across the finish line in December, senators negotiated updated text with Elon Musk’s X seeking to address GOP concerns.
Musk, who at the time was a key figure in then-President-elect Trump’s orbit, threw his weight behind the legislation following the changes.
However, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) ultimately poured cold water on the push, saying he still had reservations about the KOSA’s free speech implications.
Blackburn and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) reintroduced the legislation in May, using the same language negotiated last December.
Notably, the bill had the support of leadership from the outset, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) both joining as co-sponsors.
Check out the full report at TheHill.com this weekend.
