The EARN IT Act, short for Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies Act, is a proposed US law that aims to combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA) by holding tech companies accountable for their users’ content. Now this of course sounds like a good idea on the surface, but the broader ramifications are very dangerous for free speech, censorship, privacy, and could target marginalized groups such as the LGBTQ+, sex workers, etc.
Under the EARN IT Act, companies that provide online communication services, such as social media platforms, would be required to adhere to a set of best practices developed by a government-appointed commission. The bill would allow law enforcement to access encrypted communications. This provision has drawn criticism from privacy advocates, who argue that it would weaken the security of encrypted messaging services.
Critics of the EARN IT Act also argue that it would lead to the censorship of free speech online, as companies may be incentivized to remove any content that could be considered even remotely related to CSEA to avoid liability. Here’s a long post by fullhalalalchemist with more info about it and what you can do to stop it:
(TLDR: The EARN IT Act will lead to online censorship of any and all adult & lgbt content across the entire internet, open the floodgates to mass surveillance the likes which we haven’t seen before, lead to much more CSEM being distributed online, and destroy encryption. Call 202-224-3121 to connect to your house and senate representative and tell them to VOTE NO on this bill that does not protect anyone and harms everyone.)
Here are the links:
This website takes you to your Senator / House members contact info. EMAIL, MESSAGE, SEND LETTERS, CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL. Calling is the BEST way to get a message through. Get your family and friends to send calls too. This is literally the end of free speech online.
More sources to read about this bill:
The EARN IT Act is Anti-Evidence Policy
Fight for the Future’s Statement
EARN IT Act treats Myths as Facts.
What is the EARN IT Act of 2022? (From 2020, but little has changed about the bill.)
The Senate just revived its most divisive Section 230 bill
Center for Democracy and Technology’s Statement
DISCORD LINK IF YOU WANT TO HELP FIGHT IT
Source: fullhalalalchemist
