why big tech is suddenly begging for a child safety marriage

big tech lobbyists are pivoting to a last-ditch effort to pass a comprehensive federal ai law by linking it to sen. marsha blackburn's kids online safety act (kosa). the strategy aims to use republican interest in child safety to pass a federal preemption package that overrides state-level ai regulations, though specific details on which version of kosa—the senate's or the house's—remain unclear. this potential deal has caused significant confusion among lawmakers and lobbyists, with house republicans and some democrats reportedly left out of negotiations. while the move offers tech companies a chance to avoid a patchwork of state laws, it forces them to accept potentially stricter child safety mandates. the outcome rests on whether republicans can reconcile their internal divisions before the political window closes.