Microsoft Joins In On The ‘Screw Over LGBTQ Kids’ Party By Supporting KOSA

Politics

from the cynical-political-moves dept

Well, this is not that much of a surprise, but in the leadup to the Senate “child safety” dog and pony show that will be happening in a few hours, Microsoft decided to twist the knife in to some of its competitors. Microsoft’s Vice Chair and President, Brad Smith (who was formerly the company’s general counsel and absolutely understands the impact of what he’s doing) came out and endorsed the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA).

If you can’t read that, he says:

Technology can be a powerful tool for learning, creativity, communication, and social good, but can equally pose significant challenges and risks for young users. We must protect youth safety and privacy online and ensure that technology – including emerging technologies such as AI – serves as a positive force for the next generation.

The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) provides a reasonable, impactful approach to address this issue. It is a tailored, thoughtful measure that can support young people to engage safely online. Microsoft supports this legislation, encourages its passage, and applauds Senators Blumenthal and Blackburn for their leadership.

This is absolute bullshit on multiple levels. First off, weird plug for AI there, which has nothing to do with any of this, and which is likely to be Congress’ next target of “bad” tech.

Of course, that may very well be why Smith is doing this. He knows it’s an easy way to cozy up with Congress and pretend to support their agenda, while the downside risk to Microsoft is minimal. KOSA is going to cause a pain for more consumer-facing social media sites like Instagram and YouTube, but Microsoft-owned sites like LinkedIn and GitHub are most likely to be spared. So, as a totally cynical approach, this saddles some of Microsoft’s largest competitors with a nonsense compliance headache, while letting Microsoft publicly claim it’s “protecting the kids” while getting kudos from Congress.

However the claim that KOSA is “reasonable,” “impactful,” “tailored,” or “thoughtful” is just grade-A bullshit. The law is a total mess, and will do real harm to kids beyond just being obviously unconstitutional. As we’ve pointed out multiple times, GOP support for the bill is because they know it will be used to censor LGBTQ content. The GOP’s leading “think tank,” the Heritage Foundation has publicly supported the bill because they believe censoring LGBTQ content “is protecting kids.” Meanwhile, bill co-sponsor, Marsha Blackburn (whom Smith thanks above for her “leadership,”) has similarly admitted that Congress should pass KOSA to “protect minor children from the transgender in our culture.”

There is no excuse for Microsoft to take this stance, which Smith well knows will likely lead to kids dying, rather than being protected. But, Smith is a cynical political operator and knows exactly what he’s doing. He’s doing a favor for Congress while cynically kicking his rivals while they’re down. Between this and Snap’s similar capitulation, expect to see all sorts of nonsense at the hearing about how “some companies want to protect our children, why won’t you?” addressed to the other company representatives.

Microsoft, over the last decade or so, really rehabilitated its public image as the evil company of the 90s that crushed competitors through any dirty trick imaginable. But that DNA is still in there, and it will miss no opportunity to kick competitors, even if it comes at the expense of children.

Filed Under: 1st amendment, ai, brad smith, censorship, competition, kosa, protect the children
Companies: microsoft, snap