Regulating Social Media and AI: The Kids Online Safety Act

The podcast episode discusses the Kids Online Safety Act (COSA), a bill being considered in Congress that aims to regulate how social media companies treat minors. While COSA has bipartisan support, critics argue that it could lead to government censorship. The bill focuses on holding social media platforms accountable for the product designs and algorithms that drive harmful content at kids, such as eating disorders, bullying, and drug abuse. The Electronic Frontier Foundation highlights the dangerous potential of the bill. Connecticut Democrat Richard Blumenthal, one of COSA's sponsors, clarifies that the bill does not censor content but targets the algorithms and designs. He emphasizes the importance of creating a duty of care for social media platforms to prevent harm to children.