Events

On February 21 and 22, the Supreme Court heard two cases that have the power to drastically change some of the apps and platforms we use every day. In Gonzalez v. Google and Twitter v. Taamneh, the Justices examined whether or not online platforms can be held liable for decisions made by algorithms and content recommendation systems that are core to the function of their products. Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 has provided relative immunity to platforms for decades, saying that online platforms cannot be held liable for content that users write or post on their sites and apps. These two cases will test how far Section 230 protections extend and if justices will differentiate between users' online posts and platform design features that amplify or minimize the spread of content.

The FOSI 2023 Annual Conference: New Frontiers in Online Safety was held in-person on Monday, November 13, at the InterContinental Washington D.C. - The Wharf. FOSI's Annual Conference is the premier online safety event of the year, and we hosted robust discussions around safety in our ever-changing digital world. Top experts debated on topics such as content moderation, privacy policies and practices, digital wellbeing, and more. We delved into the latest research around critical issues such as AI, and practical approaches to ethics, safety, and parenting in the online space.

Online safety policy has been one of the most bipartisan areas of collaboration recently and jurisdictions are racing to create new regulations that protect their citizens. States across the U.S. are no exception, as the past few years have seen dozens of bills advance through legislatures including the establishment of data privacy rights, new requirements for online content moderation, age restrictions for accessing social media, and age-appropriate design codes. Maryland is one such state, as the 2023 legislative session included the introduction and advancement of the Maryland Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (also known as the Kids Code) and the Social Media Regulation and Safety for Children. The Kids Code, modeled after California's act that became law last year and the UK's Age Appropriate Design Code, passed the House of Delegates but did not advance out of the Senate. The Social Media Regulation would require platforms to delete all data on children under 13 or face a fine, and also did not advance this past session.

Growing up in a society where acceptance of one's identity isn't guaranteed can have adverse effects on the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth. Recent research from The Trevor Project found that negative treatment at home and at school, as well as legislation targeting members of the LGBTQ+ community, result in negative impacts on young queer peoples' mental health. Like most young people, LGBTQ+ teens are increasingly connecting with their community online. In these digital spaces, they can often find the acceptance and affirmation that's lacking in other areas of their social experience. On Thursday, June 15th, FOSI a webinar discussion centered on the connection between digital life and mental health within the LGBTQ+ community, and the organizations harnessing those connections to create safe spaces online to affirm and empower LGBTQ+ young people. Panelists discussed ways in which parents, educators, and family members can protect and support LGBTQ+ youth both online and offline, and the many resources that are available for youth to access positive and uplifting communities and live as their authentic selves.

On June 27th, FOSI hosted its annual European Forum at the Google Safety Engineering Center in Dublin, Ireland. This event, titled "Regulating and Innovating Online Safety," featured top representatives across industry, government, academia, and the charity sector as they debated the implications of current and pending global legislation, best practices surrounding AI, digital wellbeing, and more.

Getting kids back in the classroom this Fall means tackling tech use from many different angles. In the coming months, parents will be contending with how to balance the extra screen time needed for homework, helping kids navigate complex social dynamics online, and striving to teach them what good behavior looks like by example. Additionally, both parents and kids are learning about generative AI in real time, and how these brand new technologies will impact academics and learning as well as everyday life.

Over the past two years online safety policy has become a top priority throughout state capitals. While many states have embraced their own unique cultures and taken different approaches from each other, it is clear that protecting children online is a bipartisan issue. We started this FOSI Briefs the States event series to highlight these recent policy developments and discuss the important, nuanced, and timely issue that is online safety.

If it feels like we've been here before, it's because we have. On July 27, 2022, the Senate Commerce Committee passed both COPPA 2.0 and KOSA out of Committee and sent them to the full Senate. The bills did not advance any further before the session ended, and were reintroduced earlier this year. On July 27, 2023, exactly one year later, the Senate Commerce Committee again passed both bills out of Committee, with some updates and amendments. So, now what?On October 4, FOSIÂ hosted an in-person lunch briefing on Capitol Hill to discuss the recent changes to these privacy and safety bills, the path to pass both of these bills, and what each would mean for our online lives. Child privacy and safety champion Senator Edward J. Markey delivered opening remarks, before a panel discussion featuring passionate stakeholders.

In the past year, AI and genAI have become increasingly prevalent in our daily lives. What does this mean for caregivers and policymakers who are working to keep children safe online? Recent FOSI research shows that young people are looking for guidance when it comes to AI/genAI, and caregivers currently have a unique opportunity to educate their children about the topic. Policymakers are also beginning to consider the effects AI/genAI can have on families and children. States, the federal government, and Europe have all taken different regulatory steps in order to limit the risks while reaping the rewards of these technologies. On February 15th, FOSIÂ hosted a discussion between genAI researcher Michelle Dickens (Kantar) and a parent and teen who participated in FOSI's recent research report, followed by a robust discussion about the policy implications that stem from FOSI's recent research with Samir Jain (Center for Democracy and Technology). The conversation was moderated by FOSI's CEO Stephen Balkam.  

On May 8, 2024, FOSI hosted their first California state policy event in Sacramento, California. Tami Bhaumik, the VP of Civility and Partnerships at Roblox & FOSI Board Chair, provided opening remarks. California Assemblymember Josh Hoover provided a keynote address.