Could Archive of Our Own (AO3) & other fanfiction sites shut down if KOSA bill passes? Here's what we know

The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and COPPA 2.0 bills are pieces of legislation that have been presented by the U.S. Senate.

These bills have been designed to childproof the internet and safeguard minors from harmful online content.

But some people are concerned that it could have a negative impact on some fanfiction sites like Archive of Our Own (AO3), including potential shutdowns.

Adding to their worries are the recent DDoS attacks on AO3, which have further heightened apprehensions about the platform’s future.

Archive of Our Own is well-known for hosting a vast collection of fan-created content, including stories and artwork related to numerous fandoms.

Many of these works examine topics and relationships that are non-traditional or LGBTQ+ in nature.

Fans are concerned that under the KOSA law, such content would be subjected to stricter scrutiny, potentially leading to its removal or the shutdown of the platform altogether.

Even though two senators acknowledged that KOSA can have negative consequences for LGBTQ communities, it still passed the committee voice vote, leaving some dissatisfied.

Some argue that the act mainly affects commercial platforms and are speculating that fanfiction sites like AO3 will not be impacted.

While the bill’s initial emphasis might be specific, a few believe that it can be broadened over time to encompass a broader range of online activities and content.

It doesn’t matter if KOSA completed step one. you still need to fight against it as this doesn’t just affect the U.S! if this bill passes and the government decides they don’t like- i mean think discord or AO3 is harmful to kid’s? BOOM GONE! #stopKOSA #KOSA
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And this, undoubtedly, will have a huge impact on internet freedom, privacy, and accessibility.

People are also afraid that the censorship authority provided to the government could be misused to explicitly target and ban LGBTQ spaces online, including sites like AO3 and queer content on TikTok.

A Redditor even believes this to be a massive violation of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion, speech, press, peaceful assembly, and the right to petition the government.

Since the Kosa bill is going to effect apps like Discord, ao3, etc, I suggest people start to download their stories, back up their ocs stuff on Google docs, and possibly exchange numbers with friends on there.
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In response to the perceived concerns posed by the bills, fans of AO3 and other fanfiction or fandom sites have launched online petitions and social media campaigns (1,2,3,4).

Undoubtedly, this will assist them in voicing their opposition to the bill and advocating for the preservation of creative freedom on these platforms.

Additionally, the petitions also aim to raise awareness about the potential repercussions of the bill on their favorite sites. Those impacted have also been asked to contact their state’s representatives or lawmakers in this regard.

Having said that, we will keep monitoring this issue and update this article to reflect noteworthy information.

Featured image source: Archive of Our Own.

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