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Internet Censorship Bill Could Spell Disaster for Speech and Innovation

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Re: Internet Censorship Bill Could Spell Disaster for Speech and Innovation

#31

Post by the_stc »

rxhernandez wrote: post #22
the_stc wrote: post #15

The real way to fight trafficking is legalization and regulation, including interviews with sex workers to detect coercion, then followups to help them. Since fixing the laws is going to take a while, we've taken it upon ourselves. We're building such a superior solution for both sex providers and clients, it'll hurt trafficking like iTunes hurt music piracy.

Not that I don't support legalization, but I'm skeptical as to how much legalization would help. Put simply, can we expect new sex workers to come out of the woodwork to create the supply needed to make sex trafficking substantially less profitable? Are women and men suddenly and substantially going to start selling that service if it became legalized?

Legalization and regulation. Require a license and periodic reviews. Just having easy, legal, sex available means a lot of the revenue dries up, which makes it harder to run the illegal operations.

Re: Internet Censorship Bill Could Spell Disaster for Speech and Innovation

#33

Post by losteric »

illumin8 wrote: post #26
rayiner wrote: post #11

The Act is as bad as the EFF says it is. 18 U.S.C. 1591 makes illegal "participation in a venture" which financially benefits from trafficking. This bill defines "participation in a venture" to include "knowing conduct by an individual or entity, by any means, that assists, supports, or facilitates the violation." That language vastly expands potential liability. If a website knows that its services are being used to…

I just wrote to Blumenthal and shared some info from your post. He's my senator, and I agree with most of his policies, but this is seriously misguided. Thanks for helping me to understand the chilling effect this bill would potentially have on every popular online communications service. I seriously cannot imagine how this would not put Facebook, Google, Reddit, and every other online communications platform out of…

The law can and will be selectively enforced to the betterment of those in power.

Facebook will be fine giving the government unlimited access to their deeply mined data. Diaspora, Mastodon, those are the sites that will get crushed.

Re: Internet Censorship Bill Could Spell Disaster for Speech and Innovation

#34

Post by TazeTSchnitzel »

Without having read the bill, I suspect the titular “sex trafficking” is just a code word for sex work in general, as is often the case with such initiatives. It's very easy to crack down on sex worker rights by claiming all of them are trafficked. Which helps nobody: driving sex work further underground only makes the women working in it more vulnerable.

Re: Internet Censorship Bill Could Spell Disaster for Speech and Innovation

#35

Post by FuriouslyAdrift »

rayiner wrote: post #11

The Act is as bad as the EFF says it is. 18 U.S.C. 1591 makes illegal "participation in a venture" which financially benefits from trafficking. This bill defines "participation in a venture" to include "knowing conduct by an individual or entity, by any means, that assists, supports, or facilitates the violation." That language vastly expands potential liability. If a website knows that its services are being used to…

Since cable internet companies are not under Title II, wouldn't that make them de facto illegal under this law?

Re: Internet Censorship Bill Could Spell Disaster for Speech and Innovation

#37

Post by protomyth »

CurtMonash wrote: post #2

Oh crap -- not again! Holding the line against censorship is very, very nerve-wracking.

Its a constant pain in the butt. We really need a lobbying effort that makes Senators and Congresspeople afraid to even suggest something this stupid.

On a side note, at least one of the Senators won't be a problem after the 2018 election.

Re: Internet Censorship Bill Could Spell Disaster for Speech and Innovation

#38

Post by protomyth »

busterarm wrote: post #12
noja wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> What politician is going to vote against cracking down on sex trafficing though? A good one that doesn't vote on a law based on it's always-misleading title.

You've seen how campaign ads work, right? "Congressmen X voted to enable sex trafficking online. Congressment X wants sex trafficking in your community. Vote Y and end sex trafficking for good."

"My opponent supports sneaking a bill through that would harm you, your family, and the freedoms of true patriots by wrapping it falsely as a cure for sex trafficking, like a snake oil salesman trying to sell you sewage with perfume to cure your ills. What other things will this charlatan support?"

Re: Internet Censorship Bill Could Spell Disaster for Speech and Innovation

#39

Post by UnpossibleJim »

primitivesuave wrote: post #17

This is not some covert attack on Internet businesses, it is a well-intentioned but misguided attempt by these senators to prevent adult service websites (namely backpage.com) from enabling pimps and organized crime to traffic victims with impunity under Section 230. Backpage actively helps buyers and sellers remain anonymous specifically for adult services , and provides the means to avoid detection by law enforceme…

If those same said senators wanted to actually make a dent in sex trafficking in this country, they would take a look at legalization and regulation in a controlled environment, not unlike Nevada. This is another Band Aid to help make themselves look/feel better by exerting more control on a populace and ignoring the ways this bill will be misused, rather than taking a look at taking real steps to solve a problem. Unfortunately, the American public seems more than ready to eat a ton of BS sprinkled with a little sugar and false hope. Same way Guantanamo was pit in to make it's way against trial laws, PRISM was implemented while directly opposing constititional law and invasions of sovereign countries have taken place by using drones instead of soldiers. The road to Hell is, was and always will be paved with good intentions and politicians promises.

Re: Internet Censorship Bill Could Spell Disaster for Speech and Innovation

#40

Post by bandang »

rayiner wrote: post #11

The Act is as bad as the EFF says it is. 18 U.S.C. 1591 makes illegal "participation in a venture" which financially benefits from trafficking. This bill defines "participation in a venture" to include "knowing conduct by an individual or entity, by any means, that assists, supports, or facilitates the violation." That language vastly expands potential liability. If a website knows that its services are being used to…

It could have some positive side effects....

1. It would force Americans off Internet2.0, this would be great for everyone else.

2. It would stop Saudi Arabia selling the US oil, if they cant use US dollars to buy American Sex, they will sell the oil to someone who will - remember - no sex, no business.

3. Faced with 1 and 2, Americans will make Internet3.0, which will be better than Internet2.0

Impact on the Microsoft store remains uncertain, they may actually have to start policing it.

Apps!

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