[HN Gopher] Don't fall for the latest changes to the dangerous K...
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       Don't fall for the latest changes to the dangerous Kids Online
       Safety Act
        
       Author : leotravis10
       Score  : 42 points
       Date   : 2024-02-20 20:18 UTC (2 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (www.eff.org)
 (TXT) w3m dump (www.eff.org)
        
       | freedomben wrote:
       | IANAL, but I wish they had put this bullet closer to the top,
       | although I agree the logical flow does have it more appropriately
       | at the bottom.
       | 
       | > _Adults in any of these groups who are unwilling to share their
       | identities will find themselves shunted onto a second-class
       | internet alongside the young people who have been denied access
       | to this information._
       | 
       | This is what I wish people would understand. It doesn't just
       | protect kids from dangerous information. It flips the assumption
       | of age on it's head.
       | 
       | You're no longer assumed to be an adult on the internet, you're
       | assumed to be a child. If you want to be treated as an adult, you
       | have to "show" your ID, and this is not a cashier selling beer at
       | the gas station. This will include the least trustworthy data-
       | hoarding internet marketers who don't give a damn about your
       | privacy. They will view your ID verification as data that can be
       | used for marketing campaigns and sold to other people. They will
       | probably be glad if this law passes because of the cover it gives
       | them to invade your privacy even more.
        
       | quasse wrote:
       | Full text of the new version of the bill can be found here:
       | https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/21424kosabil...
       | 
       | I am reading though the bill right now and do not have quite the
       | same takeaway that the EFF is promoting. Sec 102 specifically
       | exempts platforms from limiting "any minor from deliberately and
       | independently searching for, or specifically requesting,
       | content". This seems to neuter a lot of the pushback that the
       | bill will prevent youth from searching for sexual health,
       | minority status, LGBTQ+ information.
       | 
       | I think a lot of platforms are upset that they won't be able to
       | push this type of content algorithmically (see the prevalence of
       | "mental-health-tok", "5 signs that you have ADHD" videos) but I
       | am *very* skeptical that this type of content is healthy for
       | anyone. I think it drives a ton of engagement which large
       | platforms don't want to lose.
       | 
       | My main beef with KOSA is that a bunch of the meat of the rules
       | and enforcement (Sec 106 - Sec 109) is completely punted on. Lots
       | of "Not later than 18 months after the enactment of this act" the
       | FTC will "issue guidance" or create rules for various things. It
       | seems like Congress doesn't quite know what they want to
       | regulate, but they want someone (who isn't them) to do so.
        
         | kmbfjr wrote:
         | Well isn't that cute. Congress wants an administrative law
         | solution but refuses to codify protections for other
         | administrative law divisions like the EPA.
        
       | paulddraper wrote:
       | I've read this article multiple times, but I still don't
       | understand the core legal claim.
       | 
       | What's the case for the First Amendment not allowing KOSA?
       | 
       | What makes KOSA different from constitutional obscenity/indecency
       | laws?
       | 
       | Thanks for helping me understand.
        
         | leotravis10 wrote:
         | This Techdirt piece from Mike Masnick describes a bit more
         | detail: https://www.techdirt.com/2024/02/15/senator-blumenthal-
         | prete...
        
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       (page generated 2024-02-20 23:01 UTC)