NEW ORLEANS — An organization of parents is calling on Congress to pass laws to better protect kids online. The group, Parents SOS, spoke on the Kids Online Safety Act, also known as KOSA.
It's currently awaiting approval in the House of Representatives. The act would require internet service platforms to take new measures to reduce online dangers for minors.
Those dangers include sextortion schemes where scammers threaten to reveal explicit photos or information of the victim if they don't pay them money.
One father spoke about how his son committed suicide after falling victim to one of these schemes.
"Walker spent two hours begging and pleading with this person not to tell them he didn't have any money," said Brian Montgomery. "Even when he told them he would kill himself, they said go ahead you're already dead anyway."
KOSA garnered bipartisan support in the Senate, but there are still some who oppose the bill, saying it could enable censorship and block material related to important issues like racism and abortion.
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