The Trader Harbor
  • Business
  • Politics
  • World News
  • Stocks
  • Business
  • Politics
  • World News
  • Stocks

The Trader Harbor

Politics

Speaker Johnson says ‘still some concern’ about Elon Musk-backed online safety bill

by admin December 11, 2024
December 11, 2024
Speaker Johnson says ‘still some concern’ about Elon Musk-backed online safety bill

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said he still has lingering doubts about a children’s online safety bill that Elon Musk threw support behind this weekend.

‘There’s still some concern about the free speech components of that, and whether it might lead to further censorship by the government of valid, you know, conservative voices, for example. So we’re working through all that,’ Johnson told reporters at his weekly press conference Tuesday.

The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) is the most significant social media reform pushed by the Senate in decades. 

It breezed through Congress’ upper chamber in a 91 to 3 vote but hit a snag in the House of Representatives, where leaders have expressed concern about possible censorship and about the power it bestows on the Federal Trade Commission.

Linda Yaccarino, CEO of the Musk-owned social media platform X, announced over the weekend that they have worked with the Senate sponsors of the bill to alleviate some of those issues.

‘We’ve heard the pleas of parents and youth advocates who seek sensible guardrails across online platforms, and the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) addresses that need. After working with the bill authors, I’m proud to share that we’ve made progress to further protect freedom of speech while maintaining safety for minors online,’ Yaccarino wrote on the platform this weekend. ‘We urge Congress and the House to pass the Kids Online Safety Act this year.’

It precipitated a pressure campaign over the weekend by allies of President-elect Donald Trump pushing the House to take up the bill. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders and Donald Trump Jr., were among those who sounded off, as well as Musk himself, who posted on X, ‘Protecting kids should always be priority #1.’

Johnson said Tuesday that he appreciated the efforts behind the legislation. He also suggested the effort could be renewed next year, with only two weeks left in the current congressional term.

‘I’m grateful for the hard work that’s been done. I’m grateful for the support behind it. Certainly, I think all of us, 100% of us, support the principle behind it,’ the speaker said.

‘But you’ve got to get this one right when you’re dealing with the regulation of free speech. You can’t go too far and have it be overbroad, but you want to achieve those objectives. So it’s essential that we get this issue right.

‘We are very optimistic that if it’s not done this year, that we can do that early next year with our Republican majorities, because it’s the Republican Party that has been working aggressively to protect children online.’

The bill’s leaders, Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., thanked Musk and Yaccarino for their work over the weekend.

‘These changes should eliminate once and for all the false narrative that this bill would be weaponized by unelected bureaucrats to censor Americans,’ Blackburn and Blumenthal said. ‘We appreciate that this endorsement and revised text reflects their publicly stated goal of furthering free speech without fear of censorship. We reiterate X’s call to pass KOSA by the end of the year – it is clear that this legislation has overwhelming support from Congress.’

KOSA would put the onus on social media companies to prevent and mitigate potential harm that could be caused to users under age 17.

The bill would also force platforms to block addictive components for minor users and make it easier for minors to protect their information, among other measures.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
A kinder, gentler Trump? President-elect taking a more moderate stance
next post
Trump’s Defense pick goes on offense as support grows for Hegseth confirmation

Related Posts

Lindsey Graham tells UN International Court of Justice...

May 25, 2024

Rubio condemns assassination attempt on Colombian presidential candidate...

June 9, 2025

Western powers urge Israel show restraint in retaliation...

April 18, 2024

GOP holdouts sound alarm on $36T debt crisis...

May 23, 2025

US sanctions money laundering network aiding Iran as...

June 7, 2025

Pope, State Department condemn latest massacre of Christians...

July 1, 2025

Ukraine enters fourth year of war with Russia:...

February 24, 2025

Trump says he has UFO files – will...

June 28, 2024

Kevin McCarthy’s ghost is haunting House GOPs’ next...

May 27, 2024

Trump says he is pulling security clearances for...

February 10, 2025

    Stay updated with the latest news, exclusive offers, and special promotions. Sign up now and be the first to know! As a member, you'll receive curated content, insider tips, and invitations to exclusive events. Don't miss out on being part of something special.


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Latest

    • The Real Drivers of This Market: AI, Semis & Robotics

      July 21, 2025
    • What Musk’s fracture with Trump means for GOP’s future: ‘Beating heart of the Republican Party’

      July 21, 2025
    • Trump’s housing chief rips Powell for blowing millions on Fed facelift during housing crisis he perpetuates

      July 21, 2025
    • Trump celebrates 6 months back in office: US ‘totally revived’ after being ‘DEAD’ under Biden

      July 21, 2025
    • Biden admin spent hefty sum of US tax dollars to upgrade embassy swimming pools in Iraq, Russia

      July 21, 2025
    • Trump heads to Scotland, continues ironing out trade deals after notching six months back in office

      July 21, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (1,299)
    • Politics (4,040)
    • Stocks (1,535)
    • Uncategorized (45)
    • World News (1,292)
    • About us
    • Contact us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: TheTraderHarbor, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 thetraderharbor.com | All Rights Reserved