|
|
One Weird Trick to Ruin the Internet
In the name of protecting children, governments and corporations worldwide are enacting policies that threaten the open Internet, from invasive age verification to overzealous content bans. Framed as moral imperatives, these "for the children" laws often mask censorship and erode digital freedoms, as recent developments starkly demonstrate.
|
On June 27, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the case of Free Speech Coalition v Paxton that it is lawful for states to require age verification for content that the government deems sexual. A few weeks later, Australia provided the perfect demonstration of where this will lead: requiring age verification simply to access search engines through which sexual or violent content can be accessed. In the United Kingdom, similar regulations under the Online Services Act have seen mainstream sites like Reddit and Bluesky making the non age-verified sections of their sites into censored walled gardens to meet regulators' demands for a child-friendly Internet.
|
But it's not just regulators who are pushing this censorship agenda. Some other platforms are cracking down due to pressure from payment companies Visa and Mastercard, such as Fansly which banned furry content from June 2025, while in July Steam commenced removing banned sex-themed games to comply with payment company demands.
|
Meanwhile, social platforms are increasingly misdetecting legitimate content as child abuse. There are hundreds of reports of people being banned from platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat over false allegations of child abuse content. In June 2025, a 14 year old lost years of YouTube videos because an AI robot discovered a bathtime video of themselves in their Google Photos account. Platforms such as Google and TikTok have also been reporting innocent users to the police in such cases, resulting in traumatic false charges.
|
These moves are accelerating, and they are not coincidental. In fact there's one weird trick that accounts for them all: moral panic over child online safety. But the case that uncensored Internet access harms children has been overblown, and the case for government paternalism rather than parental oversight as the solution is questioned by experts. Instead of heavy-handed regulation, experts advocate for empowering parents with tools like customizable content filters and promoting digital literacy programs that teach children to navigate online spaces safely. These approaches respect individual freedoms while addressing legitimate safety concerns without resorting to censorship.
|
This pattern of fixating on sensational threats while ignoring systemic issues is not unique to the digital realm. Consider the current myopia over Jeffrey Epstein as an offline equivalent. While Epstein's sex trafficking of young teenagers was heinous, it was also an extreme outlying case that didn't reflect the most common ways in which young people are sexually abused. By focusing so intently on this one offender, the most common causes of real world sexual abuse of minors—such as by foster carers, siblings and peers, and in survival sex work—are rendered invisible. Among all the fuss over President Trump's connections to Epstein, no attention has been given to the fact that federal funding for child sexual abuse prevention—already tragically low—has been cut to zero by Trump's administration.
|
Unfortunately, this QAnon-level discourse on child safety isn't a regression from the norm, it is the norm. An advance on that norm would be to reorient our approach to child safety—online and offline—away from moralistic crusades fueled by panic and toward pragmatic, evidence-based solutions. We should invest in robust prevention programs that tackle the root causes of abuse, such as poverty and lack of support for vulnerable families.
|
|
Online, we must prioritize parental empowerment through better tools, like app-based monitoring systems, and community-driven initiatives that educate rather than censor. The current path of "for the children" policies sacrifices Internet freedom on the altar of overstated fears, failing both children and the open web. True protection lies in fostering resilience and responsibility, not in locking down the digital world.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Latest from Our Blog
|
|
|
|
|
|
liberato.io donate to our fundraiser Liberato is the foundation of many of COSL's supported charitable projects. As a nonprofit that values both safety and liberty, our projects demand a high level of trust that their privacy is guaranteed, their freedom of expression protected, and trust and safety upheld. This trust is worth more than money. But it does cost real …
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beyond the Filter: Fanfic arrests in China
|
|
|
|
In this episode, hosts Jeremy and Brandy speak with F15-H (Fish), an artist from Hong Kong now living in mainland China, about a shocking wave of arrests targeting fanfiction writers on the Chinese platform MyHD Books. Over 500 authors—predominantly young women and college students—were arrested in May on charges of public indecency, facing penalties of up to 10 years in …
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Age Verification Provides Neither Safety Nor Liberty
|
|
|
|
Today, June 27, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Texas's age verification law in a 6-3 decision that marks a troubling lurch towards digital authoritarianism. The ruling in Free Speech Coalition v Paxton greenlights a measure requiring websites with adult content to verify users' ages, ostensibly to protect minors. But this isn't progress—it's a dangerous departure from precedent that undermines …
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
How You Can Propose a COSL Project
|
|
Have an idea for a project that aligns with COSL’s mission? You can apply for fiscal sponsorship through our project proposal form. Fiscal sponsorship allows your initiative to operate under COSL’s nonprofit umbrella, giving you access to legal, administrative, and fundraising support—without needing to establish your own 501(c)(3). This is ideal for activists, researchers, and small teams launching safety and liberty-focused efforts. You retain creative control, while benefiting from COSL’s governance and accountability structures. It’s a great way to get started, but does require alignment with our values and oversight of finances and reporting. Submit your proposal to start the conversation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Be Among the First to Join Fan Refuge
Tired of seeing fanfiction and fan art deleted, demonetized, or buried behind broken filters? Fan Refuge is a bold new platform for fans—created by fans—that supports text, audio, art, and video without aggressive censorship. Inspired by the principles behind AO3, Fan Refuge uses a powerful content warning system to let you decide what to see, rather than letting algorithms or advertisers decide for you.
|
We're now inviting early supporters to be part of our alpha testing phase. To get exclusive pre-release access, all you need to do is make a donation—any amount—to the Fan Refuge crowdfunding campaign. You’ll be helping shape a new kind of fandom space that values creative freedom, mutual respect, and community control.
|
|
Ready to take a stand for fan expression? Donate today and be among the first to build something better.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fight the Interstate Obscenity Definition Act
The government is coming for your rights, and H.R.3297—the Interstate Obscenity Definition Act—is the weapon they’re wielding. Introduced on May 8, 2025, by Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) and Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), this bill isn’t just a “porn ban”—it’s a full-scale assault on free speech, personal autonomy, and the open internet we all rely on. If this bill passes, the government could censor what you watch, create, and share online, all under a vague and dangerous new definition of “obscenity.” We can’t let this happen—your freedom is on the line!
|
Proponents claim this is about “protecting children,” but don’t be fooled—this is about control. The GOP’s Project 2025 agenda is behind this, part of a broader push to regulate your personal life, from sexuality to reproduction. Internationally, laws like this have been used to silence dissent and culture—do we really want that here? The government doesn’t get to decide what you see or say online—you do.
|
|
Take action today: Tell your lawmakers to vote NO on the Interstate Obscenity Definition Act.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Support our work!
Pledging your monthly support for our work is the best way that you can support us, because it gives us the stability to plan ahead. You can pledge your support at three levels.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Keep In Touch With Us
|
 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
