The Alliance has been working on The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) legislation, S. 1409, since it was introduced in 2022, advocating for an explicit exception for news media websites from the bill’s obligations on covered online platforms. Last week, Senators Blumenthal and Blackburn amended the bill to provide that covered platform does not include news websites or apps where video content is related to news gathering, reporting, or publishing, and the site is not otherwise predominantly providing a community forum for user generated content. The bill, with this language, was approved unanimously by the Senate Commerce Committee by voice vote on July 27. Several other amendments were approved by the Committee, with further changes possible before action by the full Senate. A second children’s privacy bill, COPPA 2.0, S.1418, was similarly approved by the Senate Commerce Committee. The Alliance continues to seek changes in a number of definitions and provisions relating to news media websites in that bill as well.
Members of the News/Media Alliance staff have contributed to this post.
