Rep. Leigh Finke
PRESS RELEASE
Minnesota House of Representatives
District 66A | (651) 296-3824 | rep.leigh.finke@house.mn.gov
423 State Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Thuba Nguy?n
thuba.nguyen@house.mn.gov or 651-296-5812
September 5, 2023
Rep. Leigh Finke urges greater LGBTQIA+ protections in The Kids Online Safety Act
Saint Paul, MN- The US Senate is considering a bill, the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) authored by Sen. Richard Blumenthal[D-CT]. KOSA is facing criticism from LGBTQIA+ advocates who argue it would disproportionately harm LGBTQIA+ families and trans youth, uphold the Republican extremist anti-LGBTQIA+ and anti-trans movement, and eradicate trans communities.
The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) would regulate the online content that is available to children. A primary concern with KOSA is that it would allow tech companies to censor content that is deemed to be "harmful" to children. This could include content that is related to LGBTQIA+ identities, such as coming-out stories or information about gender-affirming care and could make it difficult for LGBTQIA+ and trans youth to access the resources they need to be safe, affirmed, and healthy.
KOSA would give tech companies explicit power to decide what content is allowed on their platforms. Enforcement authority is granted to state Attorneys General. This could lead to the censorship of LGBTQIA+ content that is education, and often the only queer-affirming educational content available to young people. This could have a chilling effect on LGBTQIA+ voices online and make it more difficult for LGBTQIA+ people to connect with each other and share their experiences.
State Representative Leigh Finke, Chair of the Minnesota House Queer Caucus, issued the following statement:
“The implications of KOSA for LGBTQIA+ and trans youth are dire. If KOSA becomes law, it will become more difficult for our youth to access the resources they need to be safe and healthy and result in a more hostile online environment for them, with fewer resources and community support.
“Our community is already suffering enough. We cannot afford to let KOSA become law. Life-saving online material for LGBTQIA+ youth, such as coming-out stories, information about gender-affirming care, community forums, sexual education resources, and affirming mental health support will be censored and removed. It will make it more difficult for LGBTQIA+ youth to connect with each other and find safe spaces online. It will perpetuate cyberbullying and foster an already hostile online environment for LGBTQIA+ youth, making them even more vulnerable to violence, harassment, and discrimination. In the name of protecting children, we must not weaponize a tool that will exterminate the trans community and censor queerness.
“The most terrifying reality of the Kids Online Safety Act is that it would give state attorneys general (AGs) the power to regulate online content that is deemed "harmful" to children. AGs like Ken Paxton of Texas, Kris Kobach of Kansas, Andrew Bailey of Missouri, and others have made clear their stances against LGBTQIA+ communities. They have a history of taking direct action against the rights of LGBTQIA+ Americans, especially against transgender youth. KOSA must be amended to include explicit protections for LGBTQIA+ people. If that is not possible, it must be opposed. We cannot allow this bill to become law and give these AGs the power to further harm our community.”
KOSA was introduced in 2022 but failed to gain traction. The current version of KOSA would still require surveillance of anyone sixteen and under. It would put the tools of censorship in the hands of state attorneys general, and would greatly endanger the rights, and safety, of young people online.
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