Boston City Council hears testimony on federal digital censorship threat to LGBTQ youth

BOSTON — November 12, 2025 — Boston City Council committee examines federal online censorship bills targeting LGBTQ youth resources. The Committee on Civil Rights, Racial Equity and Immigrant Advancement held a hearing November 12 on Docket 1670, sponsored by Councilor Henry Santana, examining the Kids Online Safety Act, Screen Act, and App Store Accountability Act. Three panels of youth advocates, city administrators, and legal experts testified that the legislation would suppress online communities that serve as lifelines for LGBTQ youth; Julianne Lee, Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of LGBTQIA2S Plus Advancement, cited data showing such youth are 45 percent less likely to attempt suicide when connected to affirming online communities. Chief Information Officer Santiago Garces reported that 39,000 unique users access the city's free Wicked Free Wi-Fi monthly, with LGBTQ community members using the network at a rate 5 percent above the citywide average. Alejandra Caraballo, a clinical instructor at the Harvard Cyber Law Clinic, warned that the legislation's vague duty-of-care standard would incentivize tech companies to censor LGBTQ content, pointing to the FTC chair's stated intent to target what he called a "trans agenda." Councilor Julia M. Mejia said her office is working to pass a related ordinance at the November 19 council meeting.