Lots of people have this response to KOSA and I can understand where they're coming from. I'm very aware how crazy the Internet can get, and I worry sometimes about what kids could be getting into online. It's no wonder that people see this stuff as a good thing.
Protecting kids and keeping them from getting into trouble online is NOT the problem here. It's HOW they're trying to do it.
KOSA would create a world where you have two choices:
1. Give social media your personal info, your face, ID, or anything else that you SHOULDN'T put on the Internet
2. Be either locked out of your account OR being given a restricted, censored Internet.
If you are queer, trans, a person who gets harassed online, or if you're in any other situation where anonymity could be keeping you safe, then THIS IS DANGEROUS.
If you have people online harassing you, threatening you, your anonymity PREVENTS those people from being able to find you. If your ID/face is in a hackable database, that info can be sold to dangerous people.
And I don't think people talk enough about how this can be dangerous to minors as well.
For one, all minors would have to give images of their face to companies. Not only that, but a lot of teens are in situations (like abuse, low income, etc.) where they have nowhere else to go if they want to find support, friends, or info that could help them through struggles or very well save their LIVES.
THOSE teens would have to choose between putting THEIR personal info online, or losing access to their friends or support forums.
But if you want to keep that privacy and safety, the only other option would be to have a restricted, censored Internet. Whether or not you're an adult. You could be locked out of accounts that you need for work, or that you need to communicate with people.
Yes, kids get into trouble online. I have heard very scary stories of how crazy the Internet can be. But I feel like we can come up with better solutions that don't put everyone (kids and adults) in more risk.
