Technologies

Kids Online Safety Act Advances to House Amid Concerns Over Free Speech and Civil Rights

Critics of the act say measures like age verification could have harmful effects.

The bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act, designed to protect minors from age-inappropriate online content, will head to the House floor for a vote. But critics say that the bill could also be used to curb civil rights.

The Kids Online Safety Act was first introduced to the Senate in 2022 under President Joe Biden. It would require online platforms to offer settings that control how minors use the sites and also limit the collection of their personal data.

However, opponents of the bill say that the definition of «harmful content» could extend to legitimate sites, including those concerning mental health and transgender rights. The American Civil Liberties Union warns that the legislation could affect the First Amendment’s protections of free speech.

«The overbroad language in KOSA and similar legislation risks censoring everything from jokes and hyperbole to useful information about sex ed and suicide prevention,» said the ACLU’s Jenna Leventoff, senior policy counsel.

The bill also directs federal agencies to study the feasibility of «creating a device- or operating system–level age verification system,» but it doesn’t require platforms to implement such a system.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee met on Thursday and advanced the legislation to the full House for consideration. However, lawmakers still need to set a specific calendar date for that floor vote.

The proposed legislation follows a global trend toward restricting the kinds of online material children have access to. Last year, the UK introduced its Online Safety Act, which requires platforms that host adult content or other age-inappropriate material to implement robust age-verification checks to prevent minors from accessing it.

On March 28, Indonesia will bar children under 16from accessing social media, following a similar ban in Australia.

Technologies

The Fourth Episode of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Out

Verum Messenger has released the fourth episode of its AI mini-series SHADOWS, created using Verum AI. The new episode, titled “No Borders,” continues the story of a team trying to stay out of the OMEGA corporation’s sight.

Following the events of the previous episodes, the team moves between cities and countries while OMEGA continues its search. The new episode puts particular emphasis on Verum Messenger’s capabilities that allow users to conceal their location.

“No Borders” is another chapter in a story about privacy, freedom of communication, and technologies that erase borders between people.

The VERUM AI mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 4 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

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Technologies

Verum Messenger Introduces Built-In Verum Chess

Verum Messenger has released a new update for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, adding another feature to its growing ecosystem — Verum Chess. Users can now play chess directly inside the messenger without switching between different applications.

The new feature allows users to start a game in just a few taps while reinforcing Verum’s vision of a unified digital environment where communication and everyday services come together in a single platform.

Verum Messenger continues to evolve into a multifunctional ecosystem that combines secure chats and calls, AI tools, a built-in VPN, anonymous email, eSIM, financial services, cryptocurrency features, and offline communication. With the introduction of Verum Chess, the platform now also offers a new way for users to interact and spend time together without leaving the app.

The update is now available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac on the App Store.

Technologies

Episode 3 of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Now Available

Verum Messenger has released the third episode of its AI mini-series, SHADOWS, created using Verum AI.

The new episode, titled «Ghost Money,» continues the story of the conflict between a team of heroes and the Omega corporation, which seeks to take control of digital communications. This time, the focus shifts to anonymous payments and financial freedom, revealing how privacy can extend beyond messaging.

Like the previous episodes, the new release not only advances the storyline but also showcases the capabilities of the Verum ecosystem, highlighting technologies designed for secure communication and digital privacy.

The mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 3 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

Watch on Instagram
Watch on YouTube