With the proliferation of hateful content on the internet, which has been exacerbated by the widespread use of AI, families across the United States are struggling to protect their children online. Since October 7, 2023, Jewish children, in particular, have been subjected to a steady wave of antisemitic bullying, harassment, and threats of violence. A joint Federations-Anti-Defamation League (ADL) study also found that 41 percent of Jewish Americans have experienced antisemitism online. 

 

Congress has both the responsibility and opportunity to act. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has done just that, taking an important step to protect children online by advancing the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). 

 

“Jewish Federations of North America commend the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation for its bipartisan advancement of the Kids Online Safety Act,” said Omer Yarden-Oppenheim, Director of Government Relations at Jewish Federations of North America. “We have worked tirelessly to strengthen online safety for Jewish children and children nationwide, and we look forward to working with both chambers to ensure the priorities reflected in the House-passed KIDS Act are preserved in a final package — and that Jewish families remain part of this critical national conversation.” 

 

Jewish Federations have been at the forefront of congressional efforts to curb the flow of online antisemitism, advocating heavily for legislation that was ultimately included in the bipartisan KIDS Act, which passed the U.S. House this June. Federations also supported two bipartisan bills aimed at better regulating AI-generated content, H.R. 9578, the Spot the Fakes Act, and H.R. 8479, the Protecting Consumers from Deceptive AI Act.