Connect with us

Published

on

A landmark bill that would hold Big Tech firms like Meta responsible for online child safety has hit a roadblock in the Senate and critics are pointing the finger at Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

The Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA would impose a legal duty of care on social media firms to protect minors from harassment, bullying, anxiety and sex abuse or face enforcement action by the Federal Trade Commission.

The bill has 69 cosponsors across the political spectrum in the Senate, including Schumer and co-lead sponsors Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.). In a surprising twist, Snap, X and Microsoft broke ranks with the tech industry to say they support the measure.

Meta hasn’t taken a firm public stance on KOSA specifically, though the company has said it supports federal regulation on online safety. When asked about an older version of the bill on Capitol Hill earlier this year, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said the company could support it with some changes.

Some of the bills proponents, including parents whose children were victims of online abuse, remain optimistic that KOSA will become law before the end of the year. However, others have grown exasperated by Schumers failure to schedule a floor vote despite the clear bipartisan support.

I cannot understand why hes not bringing it to the floor, said Mary Rodee, a New York resident who lost her 15-year-old son Riley to suicide in 2015 after he was targeted in a sextortion scheme on Facebook.

I just have to keep being like, okay, I guess thats not the plan. But that all seems like its a political dog-and-pony show.

Calls to pass the bill gained steam earlier this year after a bombshell Senate hearing in which Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg issued a stunning apology to the families of victims of online child sex abuse. The Facebook and Instagram owner currently faces a federal lawsuit from dozens of states who allege its addictive apps have exposed children to harm and fueled a youth mental health crisis.

Rodee said the apology rang hollow — and lawmakers shouldn’t have allowed it.

You gave Mark Zuckerberg a stage to apologize to us that he didnt deserve,” Rodee said. “To me, that never should have happened. I have distrust in all of it.

Meta did not immediately return a request for comment.

As The Post has reported, KOSA is one of several bipartisan online safety bills on the table — and the one considered most likely to become law. It was introduced in the Senate last year, with companion legislation coming to the House in April.

Schumer has insisted KOSA is a top priority and sought to move the bill through unanimous consent, a fast-tracked process to pass legislation as long as no senator objects. Doing so would allow the Senate, which is running short on remaining floor time ahead of the 2024 election, to avoid a lengthier roll call vote.

In a floor speech last week, Schumer said some senators still had blocks on the bill and said the Senate must pursue a different legislative path to get this done if terms cant be reached.

One key objector is Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who is not expected to drop his opposition. Paul’s office didn’t return requests for comment.

Theyve already got moms whove had tragedies with their kids coming up to me, but someone has to have the guts to read the bill, see whats wrong with it, Paul recently told the Huffington Post. If they want it unanimously, they have to negotiate.

Another is Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who, sources said, has sought assurances that KOSA would not weaken Section 230, a controversial statute that shields tech firms from liability for third-party content posted on their platforms. Wyden was one of the statute’s original co-authors.

“There have been productive discussions on KOSA,” a Wyden aide said. “Its moving in the right direction. He has not yet lifted his hold.”

In the meantime, Parents for Safe Online Spaces, whose bereaved members lost children to online harm, has pressed Schumer to act.

Over Fathers Day weekend, the group placed billboards in Times Square urging the senator and other lawmakers to save kids lives by passing KOSA. The parents also recently sent a letter reminding Schumer that hed promised to hold a vote by June 20 a deadline that has come and gone.

Theres definitely some frustration, a source close to the situation told The Post. I think the ads and the letter that the parents sent last week kicked that office into another gear. Its frustrating that didnt happen sooner.

Schumer’s office did not return multiple requests for comment.

KOSA faced another setback after the House Energy and Commerce Committee abruptly canceled plans Thursday to mark up the bill the final step before a floor vote in the lower chamber. Advocates are pushing for the markup to be rescheduled after a July 4 recess.

Outside of Congress, the bill has its share of opponents, including the ACLU and the digital advocacy group Fight For The Future. The latter has described KOSA as a dangerous censorship bill that would give the government unprecedented control over the internet.

Chamber of Progress, a Big Tech-funded trade group, argues the bill will force tech firms to over-moderate the internet.

A Blackburn spokesperson noted that KOSA has the wide support of conservatives across the board including the Heritage Foundation, America First Policy Institute, the Ethics and Public Policy Center and dozens of other organizations.

Senator Blackburn has fought for years to protect our children online and looks forward to seeing KOSA signed into law, the spokesperson said.

Despite the remaining hurdles, the bills backers say they are optimistic that it will ultimately be passed.

Rodee, who was part of a group of parents that met with Schumer about KOSA in May, said his office has been responsive about the bills status, even if progress has been slowed than shed hoped.

I have been very furious at Schumer, but I will say, they communicate very well with me, said Rodee. His chief of staff will get on the phone any time I need to be talked down. I do really sense that theyre working on it.

Blumenthal praised Schumer for leading negotiations with the Senate holdouts and said he was confident based on my conversations with the top Democrat that we are going to get this bill done.

Its remarkable that the parents have gotten things this far, said Josh Golin, executive director of the online advocacy group Fairplay and co-founder of ParentsSOS. I cant even quantify how much were outspent and outgunned by the tech industry.

A TikTok spokesperson said in a statement that the wildly popular photo app “strive(s) to promote a safe and age-appropriate experience on TikTok through robust safety policies and parental controls, a neutral age-gate, and a team of more than 40,000 safety professionals.

“There are a range of potential options that can further youth safety online, and we welcome Congress’ participation in that discussion.”

Continue Reading

UK

Eight arrests in connection with two separate terrorism investigations

Published

on

By

Eight arrests in connection with two separate terrorism investigations

Eight men have been arrested by the Metropolitan Police in two unconnected terrorism investigations.

In one operation on Saturday, counter-terror officers arrested five men, four of whom are Iranian nationals. All are in police custody.

The Met said the arrests related to a “suspected plot to target a specific premises”.

In an update shortly after midnight, the force said: “Officers have been in contact with the affected site to make them aware and provide relevant advice and support, but for operational reasons, we are not able to provide further information at this time.”

It added officers were carrying out searches at a number of addresses in the Greater Manchester, London and Swindon areas in connection with the investigation.

It said those detained were:

• A 29-year-old man arrested in the Swindon area
• A 46-year-old man arrested in west London
• A 29-year-old man arrested in the Stockport area
• A 40-year-old man arrested in the Rochdale area
• A man whose age was not confirmed arrested in the Manchester area.

More from UK

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “This is a fast-moving investigation and we are working closely with those at the affected site to keep them updated.

“The investigation is still in its early stages and we are exploring various lines of enquiry to establish any potential motivation as well as to identify whether there may be any further risk to the public linked to this matter.

“We understand the public may be concerned and as always, I would ask them to remain vigilant and if they see or hear anything that concerns them, then to contact us.

“We are working closely with local officers in the areas where we have made arrests today and I’d like to thank police colleagues around the country for their ongoing support.”

Terror arrests in separate investigation

Police also arrested three further Iranian nationals in London on Saturday as part of another, unrelated counter terror investigation.

The suspects were detained under section 27 of the National Security Act 2023, which allows police to arrest those suspected of being “involved in foreign power threat activity”.

Read more from Sky News:
Pictured: Boy killed in fire – 14 children arrested
Lady Gaga puts on biggest-ever show for free

Home secretary Yvette Cooper said in a statement: “I want to thank the police and our security services for the action they have taken to keep our country safe.

“Protecting national security is the first duty of government and our police and security services have our strong support in their vital work.”

She added: “These are serious events that demonstrate the ongoing requirement to adapt our response to national security threats.”

Continue Reading

Politics

Pro-crypto Democrats pull support for stablecoin bill in last minute

Published

on

By

Pro-crypto Democrats pull support for stablecoin bill in last minute

Pro-crypto Democrats pull support for stablecoin bill in last minute

A group of US Senate Democrats known for supporting the crypto industry have said they would oppose a Republican-led stablecoin bill if it moves forward in its current form.

The move threatens to stall legislation that could establish the first US regulatory framework for stablecoins, according to a May 3 report from Politico.

Per the report, nine Senate Democrats said in a joint statement that the bill “still has numerous issues that must be addressed.” They warned they would not support a procedural vote to advance the legislation unless changes are made.

Among the signatories were Senators Ruben Gallego, Mark Warner, Lisa Blunt Rochester and Andy Kim — all of whom had previously backed the bill when it passed through the Senate Banking Committee in March.

The bill, introduced by Senator Bill Hagerty, is formally known as the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act.

Related: Fed’s Powell reasserts support for stablecoin legislation

Senate prepares to vote on stablecoin bill

The Senate is expected to begin floor consideration of the bill in the coming days, with the first vote potentially taking place next week.

The bill has been championed by the crypto industry as a landmark step toward regulatory clarity. However, the Democrats’ about-face reflects growing unease within the party.

Although revisions were made to the bill after its committee approval to address Democratic concerns, the lawmakers said the changes fell short. They called for stronger safeguards related to Anti-Money Laundering, national security, foreign issuers, and accountability measures for noncompliant actors.

The statement was also signed by Senators Raphael Warnock, Catherine Cortez Masto, Ben Ray Luján, John Hickenlooper and Adam Schiff.

Pro-crypto Democrats pull support for stablecoin bill in last minute
A copy of the statement. Source: Alex Thorn

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Senator Angela Alsobrooks were absent from the list, who co-sponsored the bill alongside Hagerty.

Despite their objections, the Democratic senators emphasized their commitment to shaping responsible crypto regulation. They reportedly said they “are eager to continue working with our colleagues to address these issues.”

Related: US banks are ‘free to begin supporting Bitcoin’

Crypto needs a stablecoin bill

On April 27, Caitlin Long, founder and CEO of Custodia Bank, criticized the US Federal Reserve for quietly maintaining a key anti-crypto policy that favors big-bank-issued stablecoins, despite relaxing crypto partnership rules for banks.

Long explained that while the Fed recently rescinded four prior crypto guidelines, a Jan. 27, 2023, statement was left intact in coordination with the Biden administration.

The guidance, according to Long, blocks banks from engaging directly with crypto assets and prohibits them from issuing stablecoins on permissionless blockchains.

However, Long noted that once a federal stablecoin bill becomes law, it could override the Fed’s stance. “Congress should hurry up,” she urged.

Magazine: Financial nihilism in crypto is over — It’s time to dream big again

Continue Reading

UK

Pictured: Boy killed in Gateshead industrial estate fire – 14 children arrested on suspicion of manslaughter

Published

on

By

Pictured: Boy killed in Gateshead industrial estate fire - 14 children arrested on suspicion of manslaughter

Tributes have been paid to 14-year-old Layton Carr who died in a fire at an industrial estate.

Eleven boys and three girls, aged between 11 and 14 years, have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after the incident in Gateshead on Friday. They remain in police custody.

Drone view showing the aftermath of a fire at Fairfield industrial park at Bill Quay, Gateshead
Image:
Police were alerted to a fire at Fairfield industrial park in the Bill Quay area

Firefighters raced to Fairfield industrial park in the Bill Quay area shortly after 8pm, putting out the blaze a short time later.

Police then issued an appeal for a missing boy, Layton Carr, who was believed to be in the area at the time.

In a statement, the force said that “sadly, following searches, a body believed to be that of 14-year-old Layton Carr was located deceased inside the building”.

Layton’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers, police added.

Pic: North News and Pictures
Image:
Layton has been described as a ‘beautiful soul’

A fundraising page on GoFundMe has been set up to help Layton’s mother pay for funeral costs.

Organiser Stephanie Simpson said: “The last thing Georgia needs to stress trying to pay for a funeral for her Boy Any donations will help thank you.”

One tribute in a Facebook post read: “Can’t believe I’m writing this my nephew RIP Layton 💔 forever 14 you’ll be a massive miss, thinking of my sister and 2 beautiful nieces right now.”

Another added: “My boy ❤️ my baby cousin, my Layton. Nothing will ever come close to the pain I feel right now. Forever 14. I’ll miss you sausage.”

A third said: “Rest in peace big lad such a beautiful soul taken far to soon my thoughts are with you Gee stay strong girl hear for u always.”

Read more from Sky News:
Eight arrests in connection with two terrorism operations
Compensation scheme scrapped for child sexual abuse victims

Detective Chief Inspector Louise Jenkins, of Northumbria Police, also said: “This is an extremely tragic incident where a boy has sadly lost his life.”

She added that the force’s “thoughts are with Layton’s family as they begin to attempt to process the loss of their loved one”.

They are working to establish “the full circumstances surrounding the incident” and officers will be in the area to “offer reassurance to the public”, she added.

A cordon remains in place at the site while police carry out enquiries.

Continue Reading

Trending