X CEO Linda Yaccarino recently announced her part in revising the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), a digital censorship bill that would force social networks to moderate specific content that is deemed harmful and inappropriate for children, something critics have said opens the pathway for broader implementation of digital IDs for things such as age verification – which is something X owner Elon Musk has previously indicated that he seeks to turn the platform into something that emulates China’s all-in-one WeChat app, which the Chinese government uses to enforce their social credit score surveillance system.
For context: the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) provided a critical overview of what KOSA – which was passed by the U.S. Senate in July – entails, writing:
The bill allows the Federal Trade Commission to sue apps and websites that don’t take measures to “prevent and mitigate” various harms to minors, including anxiety, depression, substance use, and eating disorders. Mitigating such harms is worthwhile, but KOSA doesn’t do the job. KOSA is an unconstitutional censorship bill that gives the FTC, and potentially state Attorneys General, the power to restrict protected online speech they find objectionable.
KOSA will stifle online speech. Apps and websites will have to comply with a vague and overbroad provision demanding that they prevent “harm to minors” in all “design features.” Because they could be liable for content public officials believe causes anxiety, depression, “compulsive use,” or other alleged harms to minors, the provision incentivizes censorship. For example, some elected officials claim information about LGBTQ+ life is harmful to children and already have bannedbooks to that end. Other officials might target information about sports or hobbies they believe are dangerous. They could also target news and political commentary on social media, if they believe it causes anxiety or depression.
Platforms will respond to KOSA’s vague new liability standard, written into the bill as a “duty of care,” by censoring users’ lawful speech on topics that government officials deem harmful under the law. KOSA is ambiguous enough that different administrations could censor content all along the political spectrum, from guns to vaccines to transgender issues to abortion.
KOSA will also result in online services imposing age-verification systems to prevent minors from having the same access to content as adults. These systems require everyone—adults and minors—to verify their age. All age verification systems burden the rights of adults to read, get information, and speak and browse online anonymously.
Collecting ID online is fundamentally different—and more dangerous—than in-person ID checks in the physical world. Online ID checks are not just a momentary display: They require adults to upload data-rich, government-issued identifying documents, and create a potentially lasting record of their visit.
Consumer-focused, comprehensive federal privacy laws would protect young people without infringing on the First Amendment rights of everyone who uses the internet. Stronger competition laws would open the field and force platforms to innovate, offering more user choice for parents and teens.
Since its passage in both the Senate and eventually Congress, the bill has undergone a “resolving differences” phase to iron out some of the issues that have been raised in regard to free speech and will need to pass once again.
Last week, the Senate released a draft of the updated bill that apparently was framed in-part with the aid of X CEO Linda Yaccarino. Musk appointed her CEO of X last year. Yaccarino was in charge of NBC Universal’s Advertising Sales business and is “Chairman of the WEF’s Taskforce on Future of Work and sits on the WEF’s Media, Entertainment and Culture Industry Governors Steering Committee. She is also highly engaged with the Value in Media initiative,” according to her LinkedIn profile.
In an attempt to reportedly woo some GOP members, the latest last-minute bill is meant to address some of the free speech issues that are inherent in the text of the legislation.
On December 7th, Yaccarino explained X’s involvement with framing the bill:
When X testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee last January, we committed to working with Congress on child safety legislation. 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.
EFF reported that only one sentence to the section on what classifies as “duty of care” is meant. “Nothing in this section shall be construed to allow a government entity to enforce subsection a [the duty of care] based upon the viewpoint of users expressed by or through any speech, expression, or information protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States,” the new sentence states.
Writing for EFF, Jason Kelley and Molly Buckley explain how this still effectively changes nothing:
But the viewpoint of users was never impacted by KOSA’s duty of care in the first place. The duty of care is a duty imposed on platforms, not users. Platforms must mitigate the harms listed in the bill, not users, and the platform’s ability to share users’ views is what’s at risk—not the ability of users to express those views. Adding that the bill doesn’t impose liability based on user expression doesn’t change how the bill would be interpreted or enforced. The FTC could still hold a platform liable for the speech it contains.
Let’s say, for example, that a covered platform like reddit hosts a forum created and maintained by users for discussion of overcoming eating disorders. Even though the speech contained in that forum is entirely legal, often helpful, and possibly even life-saving, the FTC could still hold reddit liable for violating the duty of care by allowing young people to view it. The same could be true of a Facebook group about LGBTQ issues, or for a post about drug use that X showed a user through its algorithm. If a platform’s defense were that this information is protected expression, the FTC could simply say that they aren’t enforcing it based on the expression of any individual viewpoint, but based on the fact that the platform allowed a design feature—a subreddit, Facebook group, or algorithm—to distribute that expression to minors. It’s a superfluous carveout for user speech and expression that KOSA never penalized in the first place, but which the platform would still be penalized for distributing.
It’s particularly disappointing that those in charge of X—likely a covered platform under the law—had any role in writing this language, as the authors have failed to grasp the world of difference between immunizing individual expression, and protecting their own platform from the liability that KOSA would place on it.
Other definitions added to the bill do not help to clarify matters either, such as defining what exactly “compulsive usage” means. The latest definition reads: “a persistent and repetitive use of a covered platform that significantly impacts one or more major life activities, including socializing, sleeping, eating, learning, reading, concentrating, communicating, or working.” This definition is still too vague and broad, and defined parameters are not listed in the bill either.
The bill’s original cosponsors, Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Martha Blackburn (R-TN), said in a joint statement, reported by Reclaim The Net, ‘dismissed objections to the bill as a “false narrative” that it “would be weaponized by unelected bureaucrats to censor Americans.” However the mechanism for ensuring compliance—age verification—remains a central concern. Platforms would likely be forced to implement digital ID systems, raising alarms about surveillance, data breaches, and a chilling effect on online expression.’
X To Mimic WeChat
X and Yaccarino’s involvement with KOSA speaks to Elon Musk’s desire to transform X into an all-in-one app that emulates China’s WeChat platform, which combines digital identification, banking, social media and other items in one place, which in turn is then used by the Chinese government to enforce its social credit score system.
After rebranding social media platform Twitter simply as X, Musk revealed last year that X would become the next iteration of an all-in-one app platform that can facilitate social media, public and private documentation, banking and financial services, and a plethora of other things.
Musk wrote in a X post on July 24th, writing:
Twitter was acquired by X Corp both to ensure freedom of speech and as an accelerant for X, the everything app. This is not simply a company renaming itself, but doing the same thing.
The Twitter name made sense when it was just 140 character messages going back and forth – like birds tweeting – but now you can post almost anything, including several hours of video.
In the months to come, we will add comprehensive communications and the ability to conduct your entire financial world. The Twitter name does not make sense in that context, so we must bid adieu to the bird.
That same week Musk Watcher.Guru reported that X would become more like China’s WeChat, and that “X would become half of the global financial system,” he said, “if done right,” he clarified. Musk also noted that it will be done in a way that most people do not think of when it comes to banking, but the “most efficient database for thing that is money,” he explained.
On the same day, Yaccarino also posted:
X is the future state of unlimited interactivity – centered in audio, video, messaging, payments/banking – creating a global marketplace for ideas, goods, services, and opportunities. Powered by AI, X will connect us all in ways we’re just beginning to imagine.
For years, fans and critics alike have pushed Twitter to dream bigger, to innovate faster, and to fulfill our great potential. X will do that and more. We’ve already started to see X take shape over the past 8 months through our rapid feature launches, but we’re just getting started.
On May 16th, 2022, Musk was a guest on the All-In Podcast where the hosts discussed a variety of topics, though mostly centered on technology, including his thoughts on Twitter – well before his recent purchase of the company.
During the podcast, Musk was asked about his thoughts on the Chinese-based app WeChat, and if Musk would consider making Twitter more like WeChat. He had this to say:
For those that have used WeChat – WeChat’s actually a good model. If you’re in China you kind of live on WeChat: it does everything.
It’s sorta like Twitter, plus PayPal, plus a whole bunch of other things, and all roll into one with actually a great interface, and it’s really an excellent app.
And we don’t have anything like that outside of China.
Such an app would be really useful.[…] But I think this thing really needs to exist whether it is converting Twitter to be [like] an all-encompassing app, […] or start something new […], but it does need to happen somehow.
This is not the last time, however, Musk considered overhauling Twitter and making it more like WeChat.
One month prior, he appeared in another interview courtesy of The Kilowatts, where Musk joked about how he would literally just copy and paste the WeChat framework, and then sit back and watch the profits roll in.
We don’t even have an app that’s as good as WeChat in China – you can live on WeChat, basically.
WeChat is kickass, and we don’t have anything like WeChat outside of China.
My idea would be like: ‘how about if we just copy WeChat?’ Copy them!
But for those unfamiliar with WeChat, it is a primary tool the Communist regime in China keeps tabs on its people. As Musk alluded to, the Chinese live on this app – from chatting, transactions, gaming, medical features, swapping recipes, you name it – and so therefore, the government uses it to strengthen their surveillance state.
In July, the India-based outlet Wion did a succinct story on how the Chinese government weaponizes this app against its people.
“Authorities are increasingly using the app to justify arrests or issue threats,” the host said.
The government-funded parent company Tencent designed and implemented the health rating system for the app. This same tool was heavily used as a contact tracing app for Covid-19 cases and recovery. It also doubled as a vaccine passport, where Chinese would have to scan a unique QR code to enter venues and locations wherever they went.
Not surprisingly, the government heavily censored what the people could view on the app, namely concerning Covid, and the government regularly bans accounts for discussing what is going on with lockdowns, vaccines, cases, and so on.
After their accounts are [blocked], user’s say the police come and question them.
The problem is the app is so crucial for existence in China, that users cannot even give it up. Wion noted
Nations like the United States and India have already banned the use of the app, reportedly because of censorship and encryption concerns.
In a separate report by Wion, the outlet noted that after Musk purchased Twitter he posted a tweet that said,
Buying Twitter is like an accelerant to creating X, the everything app.
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
I have repeatedly said a number of times that Musk is so obviously one of the greatest examples of a technocratic satanist, who is not one of the good guys, one of the “white hats” controlled-opposition pundits in “alt” media and those on the perceived Right posit that he is a friend of free speech. Total lies and fallacies. The cult of Elon still blows my mind. What, because this dork posts dank memes you think he’s your friend?!
1 Corinthians 14:20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
David Knight recently cited my report on tokenization, and he immediately drew a connection to Musk’s X and his desire to have X be the penultimate financial facilitator in the U.S.
Whether this happens exactly that way or not remains to be seen, but what it does demonstrate, as I detailed in my report on tokenization, is that Musk is being used as a pied piper, along with Trump and others in this regard, to beguile the ignorant masses into accepting digital bondage: get the masses to bemoan the “Left’s” censorship, but run to embrace the “Right’s” censorship, hidden behind the guise of voter IDs and proof of citizenship to separate illegals from registered taxpayers.
Proverbs 4:24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. [25] Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. [26] Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. [27] Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).
The WinePress needs your support! If God has laid it on your heart to want to contribute, please prayerfully consider donating to this ministry. If you cannot gift a monetary donation, then please donate your fervent prayers to keep this ministry going! Thank you and may God bless you.
Hi there would you mind letting me know which hosting company you’re utilizing? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different web browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot faster then most. Can you recommend a good internet hosting provider at a honest price? Thank you, I appreciate it!
Very efficiently written article. It will be useful to anybody who utilizes it, including me. Keep up the good work – i will definitely read more posts.
Awsome website! I am loving it!! Will come back again. I am bookmarking your feeds also.
Thanks, I’ve recently been looking for information approximately this subject for a while and yours is the best I have came upon so far. However, what concerning the bottom line? Are you positive concerning the supply?
I simply couldn’t depart your site prior to suggesting that I actually enjoyed the standard information an individual provide in your visitors? Is going to be again frequently to check up on new posts.
The Pink Salt Trick is a minimalist but effective morning routine: Just drink a glass of lukewarm water mixed with a pinch of Himalayan pink salt as soon as you wake up.
The Pink Salt Trick is a minimalist but effective morning routine: Just drink a glass of lukewarm water mixed with a pinch of Himalayan pink salt as soon as you wake up.
You really make it seem so easy along with your presentation however I in finding this topic to be really something which I think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and extremely wide for me. I’m having a look ahead on your next publish, I will try to get the cling of it!
The Pink Salt Trick is a minimalist but effective morning routine: Just drink a glass of lukewarm water mixed with a pinch of Himalayan pink salt as soon as you wake up.
You can definitely see your expertise within the work you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. Always follow your heart.
The Pink Salt Trick is a minimalist but effective morning routine: Just drink a glass of lukewarm water mixed with a pinch of Himalayan pink salt as soon as you wake up.
Enjoyed reading through this, very good stuff, thanks.
The Pink Salt Trick is a minimalist but effective morning routine: Just drink a glass of lukewarm water mixed with a pinch of Himalayan pink salt as soon as you wake up.
Thank you for sharing with us, I think this website genuinely stands out : D.
Hello, Neat post. There’s an issue along with your web site in web explorer, might test thisK IE still is the market chief and a good part of other folks will pass over your wonderful writing because of this problem.
A formidable share, I simply given this onto a colleague who was doing a bit of evaluation on this. And he in truth bought me breakfast as a result of I found it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If attainable, as you change into expertise, would you thoughts updating your weblog with extra details? It’s extremely helpful for me. Big thumb up for this weblog publish!
I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here. The sketch is tasteful, your authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get got an shakiness over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come further formerly again since exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case you shield this increase.
Howdy just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The text in your post seem to be running off the screen in Internet explorer. I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with internet browser compatibility but I thought I’d post to let you know. The design look great though! Hope you get the problem fixed soon. Thanks
I went over this website and I believe you have a lot of good information, saved to fav (:.
My spouse and i have been now joyful when Peter managed to finish off his researching because of the precious recommendations he got from your very own weblog. It is now and again perplexing just to find yourself giving freely tips and tricks that others might have been selling. We fully understand we’ve got the website owner to appreciate because of that. These illustrations you’ve made, the easy blog menu, the friendships you will help to promote – it is everything powerful, and it is letting our son and us believe that this content is satisfying, and that is highly serious. Thank you for all the pieces!
naturally like your web site however you need to test the spelling on quite a few of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I in finding it very bothersome to tell the reality on the other hand I will surely come back again.
That is the precise weblog for anybody who wants to search out out about this topic. You realize so much its almost arduous to argue with you (not that I really would want…HaHa). You positively put a new spin on a subject thats been written about for years. Nice stuff, just great!
I really appreciate this post. I have been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve made my day! Thx again
Wow! This could be one particular of the most helpful blogs We’ve ever arrive across on this subject. Actually Excellent. I am also a specialist in this topic therefore I can understand your hard work.
Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your point. You definitely know what youre talking about, why waste your intelligence on just posting videos to your weblog when you could be giving us something informative to read?
Great write-up, I’m regular visitor of one’s web site, maintain up the nice operate, and It’s going to be a regular visitor for a lengthy time.
I would like to thnkx for the efforts you have put in writing this website. I am hoping the same high-grade blog post from you in the upcoming as well. Actually your creative writing abilities has encouraged me to get my own blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings rapidly. Your write up is a great example of it.
You really make it seem really easy along with your presentation however I to find this topic to be really one thing that I feel I’d by no means understand. It seems too complex and very vast for me. I am taking a look ahead on your next publish, I will try to get the hang of it!
Thanks for the auspicious writeup. It in truth used to be a entertainment account it. Look complex to more added agreeable from you! By the way, how can we be in contact?
Its excellent as your other content : D, regards for posting.
Hello, Neat post. There is a problem with your website in web explorer, could test thisK IE still is the marketplace chief and a good part of other folks will leave out your fantastic writing due to this problem.
hello there and thanks on your information – I’ve certainly picked up anything new from proper here. I did alternatively experience a few technical issues the usage of this site, since I experienced to reload the web site many occasions previous to I could get it to load correctly. I were considering if your hosting is OK? No longer that I’m complaining, but slow loading cases occasions will often have an effect on your placement in google and can damage your high quality rating if advertising and ***********|advertising|advertising|advertising and *********** with Adwords. Anyway I am including this RSS to my email and could glance out for a lot extra of your respective intriguing content. Make sure you update this once more very soon..
I really like your writing style, good info, thank you for posting :D. “In every affair consider what precedes and what follows, and then undertake it.” by Epictetus.
I like what you guys are up too. Such smart work and reporting! Keep up the excellent works guys I¦ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my website 🙂
My brother suggested I would possibly like this blog. He was once entirely right. This publish truly made my day. You can not consider just how much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!
I was curious if you ever considered changing the page layout of your website? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or 2 pictures. Maybe you could space it out better?
Heya i’m for the first time here. I came across this board and I in finding It really helpful & it helped me out much. I’m hoping to present something back and aid others like you aided me.
Thank you for sharing excellent informations. Your web-site is so cool. I’m impressed by the details that you¦ve on this blog. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for extra articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found just the info I already searched all over the place and just could not come across. What a great web site.
Some genuinely great content on this site, thanks for contribution.
I have recently started a website, the info you offer on this website has helped me greatly. Thanks for all of your time & work.
An impressive share, I simply given this onto a colleague who was doing a little evaluation on this. And he in actual fact purchased me breakfast as a result of I discovered it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to debate this, I feel strongly about it and love studying more on this topic. If doable, as you turn into expertise, would you mind updating your weblog with more particulars? It is highly useful for me. Massive thumb up for this blog post!
You made some decent factors there. I appeared on the internet for the problem and found most individuals will go along with along with your website.
Hi , I do believe this is an excellent blog. I stumbled upon it on Yahoo , i will come back once again. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and help other people.
I do enjoy the way you have framed this difficulty and it does offer me personally a lot of fodder for thought. Nevertheless, from what precisely I have experienced, I simply hope when the actual comments pack on that folks remain on point and not get started on a soap box regarding the news du jour. Anyway, thank you for this outstanding piece and although I do not necessarily agree with it in totality, I regard the perspective.
Precisely what I was looking for, thanks for posting.
I got good info from your blog
Wonderful beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your web site, how can i subscribe for a blog web site? The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided bright clear idea
You have brought up a very excellent details , appreciate it for the post.
I just couldn’t leave your site before suggesting that I really enjoyed the usual information a person supply to your guests? Is gonna be again continuously to check out new posts.
Those are yours alright! . We at least need to get these people stealing images to start blogging! They probably just did a image search and grabbed them. They look good though!