OpenAI backs Kids Online Safety Act amid chatbot lawsuits

2026-05-14 · Source: Dataconomy · Field: Technology & Digital — Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Cybersecurity & Data Privacy · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, quick

Summary

OpenAI has officially endorsed the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), a bill aimed at enhancing protections for children on online platforms, amidst ongoing lawsuits alleging safety failures in its ChatGPT product. KOSA, which passed the Senate in 2024 after its 2022 introduction, requires social media companies to allow minors to opt out of "addictive" features and algorithmic recommendations. It also imposes a "duty of care" to mitigate harmful content related to eating disorders, suicide, and sexual exploitation. OpenAI's endorsement aligns with similar support from Apple, Microsoft, Snap, and X, while NetChoice, representing companies like Meta, and digital rights groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation, oppose it due to concerns about potential censorship and effectiveness.

Key takeaway

For product managers and legal teams developing AI-powered online services, your organization should proactively assess how KOSA's "duty of care" and opt-out mandates will impact product design and content moderation policies. Anticipate the need for features allowing minors to disengage from algorithmic recommendations and strengthen safeguards against harmful content, particularly given the precedent set by OpenAI's endorsement and current legal challenges.

Key insights

AI companies are increasingly aligning with legislative efforts to establish child safety standards for online platforms.

Principles

• Online platforms have a "duty of care" for minors.
• Children should control algorithmic recommendations.

In practice

• Implement opt-out features for algorithmic recommendations.
• Develop content moderation for suicide/eating disorders.

Topics

• Kids Online Safety Act
• OpenAI
• ChatGPT
• Child Online Safety
• AI Regulation

Best for: CTO, VP of Engineering/Data, Director of AI/ML, Policy Maker, Legal Professional, AI Ethicist

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Dataconomy.