Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA)
What it does
The Senate's KOSA (S.1748) puts a duty of care on platforms to shield under-17s from content a federal regulator judges harmful, which critics say pressures sites to censor lawful speech to avoid lawsuits. The House version, now folded into the KIDS Act, cut the duty of care and put age verification for every user in its place.
Why it matters
Both versions do damage, just differently. The Senate one gives the government a lever over speech; the House one makes everyone prove their age to use a platform. The House answer to the censorship worry was to bolt on the ID checkpoint we fight hardest against.
Our take
The Senate authors call the House package dead on arrival, but the House version is the one to watch. It dropped the duty of care and added age verification for every user, trading a speech problem for an anonymity one. KOSA passed the Senate once already, so neither outcome is far-fetched.
Cosponsors (76)
Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), John Thune (R-SD), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mark Kelly (D-AZ)
Committee
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
Timeline
- May 14, 2025Introduced
- May 14, 2025Referred to committee
Previous versions
- 117th Congress (2022)S.3663Advanced out of committee; no floor vote
- 118th Congress (2023)S.1409Passed the Senate 91-3; stalled in the House
Related bills
Our coverage: all kosa stories · Status checked July 20, 2026