Republican lawmakers last week introduced legislation in the federal government that could give them a more stringent grasp of some tech platforms, allowing government scrutiny over artificial intelligence.
The Republican-led House Energy and Commerce Committee’s budget settlement bill was introduced Tuesday to give the federal government the ability to update IT systems and use AI systems at the Department of Commerce. The bill will also suspend states’ ability to implement AI regulations for the next decade to ensure that the American AI market grows and is studied.
While some politicians are skeptical and critical of AI, the Trump administration is calling for a bare guardrail and seeks to foster the growth of the US AI industry.
On Friday, to close the Middle East trip to President Donald Trump, the administration announced a contract with the United Arab Emirates and built a large data center to serve American tech companies.
Republicans have worked to protect AI, but lawmakers have also introduced bills that will tighten regulations on some tech companies.
With two bills, the high-tech platform and its users’ rules aim to make children safer online.
On May 8, Sen. Mike Lee of R-Utah introduced the Indecency Definition Act (IODA). This said in a statement it will update the “legal definition of indecency in the Internet age.”
Yoda was first introduced in 2022 and reintroduced in 2024, but it did not become a law.
Yoda changes the definition of indecency that applies three depicted tests to content to “appealing to a plump interest in nude, gender, or excrement.”
Currently, it is illegal to send obscene content via telecommunications if it is intended as harassment or abuse. The bill removes that “intention” requirement. This means that content that is deemed obscene, transmitted through telecommunications systems, can be criminalized.
Despite the lack of bipartisan support or lack of recorded additional co-sponsors, it has attracted attention online and in media in languages that can create something that can prosecute porn under laws relating to indecency. However, law advocates want to prevent children from seeing indecent and indecent content.
Currently, social media platforms are recognized as “honest” immunity under section 230 of the Communications Descency Act of 1996. This means that with a few exceptions, we cannot be liable for most content posted on the site. A news release from Lee about Yoda did not specify who will be legally liable for new and indecent content, but the bill is intended to create a uniform definition of indecent, making it easier to identify and prosecute obscene content.
“While indecency is not protected by the First Amendment, the vague, non-enforceable legal definition has allowed extreme porn to saturate American society and reach countless children,” Lee said in a statement. “Our bill updates the legal definition of indecency in the Internet age, so this content can be removed and the peddler can prosecute.”
On Wednesday, the Bi-Partisan Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which will take responsibility for hosting content that is harmful to children, was reintroduced in the Senate.
Kosa will be R-Tenn in 2022. Senator Marsha Blackburn and D-Conn. It was first introduced by Richard Blumenthal, but he had not left the room. During his term in Parliament from 2023 to 2024, Kosa was re-reported with amendments to address concerns over the bill’s ambiguous language. In July, Kosa passed the Senate but failed to move forward at home by the end of 2024.
The latest version of Kosa states that the bill will require social media platforms to “remove addictive product features” and that parents will need to share steps to protect their children in order to create a platform’s obligation to gain more control and monitor their children’s social media, to mitigate content focused on topics such as suicide and disability, and to share steps to protect their children in order to require transparency from social media platforms.
Those who support the bill say the platform is legally accountable if they host harmful content that minors should not view. The opponent said it could inadvertently affect the sites that host LGBTQ content. They are also concerned that it could lead to more censorship.
“Sponsors argue that the latest versions do not censor online content. That’s not true. The bill sets out a censorship system disguised as a “duty of care.” Previous versions suppress threats.
However, updates made to the bill will help to expand its scope and eliminate the general ability of lawyers to prosecute the platform. It also makes the harm that social media and other websites expect to protect, more accurate. This has changed stances for opponents of the bill.
The bill was reintroduced by Senate majority leader John Tune (Rs.D.) and minority leader Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.). Last year, the bill was passed 91-3 in the Senate, but died in the House. The current bill is supported by Republican figures, including Apple, Trump and Elon Musk.
In a statement, Timothy Powderly, senior director of Apple’s Americas government, added that the company is happy to provide support for the bill, and that everyone plays a role in keeping their children safe online. He also acknowledged his concerns about the Kosa and praised the senators for working to improve the bill.
“As a longtime advocate of privacy as a fundamental right, I believe these improvements are important and are the first step towards a comprehensive privacy law that guarantees the right to privacy online, hopefully everyone,” Powderley said.
Critics pushed both bills back as some say it could lead to overpopulated speeches online.
Matt Navarra, a social media consultant and analyst who has worked with companies such as Google, the US and UK governments, said the bill, and in particular Kosa, could have a major impact on social media platforms and how people use them. Navarra said Kosa will force the platform to “recommended engines, notifications and data tracking work for minors.”
“For engagement-driven platforms like Tiktok and Instagram, it’s a radical shift. It’s not just about what’s allowed, but how addictive and immersive experiences are redesigned or dismantled,” he said. “So, Kosa isn’t about policing content, but more about algorithmic detoxes, especially for teens.”
Adults will also see a big change in what is accessible online if Yoda becomes law.
“While people are interested in the bill, especially around censorship, Kosa has introduced obligations of care that are theoretically considered good, in practice, they can over-model or completely remove the platform to avoid risk,” Navara said. “And the obscene bill envelops this even more.”
This article was originally published on nbcnews.com
