Oppose the Earn IT Act

#1

Post by joeyespo » Wed, Jul 01, 2020, 4:34 PM UTC

Oppose the Earn IT Act
foundation.mozilla.org

Re: Oppose the Earn IT Act

#2

Post by annoyingnoob » Wed, Jul 01, 2020, 5:34 PM UTC

We need to vote out the people pushing for backdoors. They seem to want backdoors at any cost, without any technical understanding of why its a terrible idea. Vote them out!

Re: Oppose the Earn IT Act

#3

Post by blintz » Wed, Jul 01, 2020, 5:34 PM UTC

I cannot believe that the one thing we have bipartisan consensus on is destroying strong encryption.

I guess I’m biased since this is essentially my whole livelihood, but this is crazy, right?

Re: Oppose the Earn IT Act

#4

Post by danboarder » Wed, Jul 01, 2020, 5:44 PM UTC

Where are my elected representatives that represent my privacy rights on bills like this? Maybe I need to run for office since I care about end2end encryption, free software, and the rights of free people and information to freely travel around the world...

Re: Oppose the Earn IT Act

#5

Post by BiteCode_dev » Wed, Jul 01, 2020, 5:46 PM UTC

blintz wrote: post #3

I cannot believe that the one thing we have bipartisan consensus on is destroying strong encryption. I guess I’m biased since this is essentially my whole livelihood, but this is crazy, right?

Well, nsa mass surveillance and legalized torture were never repelled by any side.

In fact, the patriot act has been prolongued 5 times, no matter the administration, and is still in effect.

As a european, I don't see any party that actually have american people's interest in mind.

Fighting for either seems so futile from here.

Of course, we have similar problems as well so I'm not going to pretend I have a solution.

Re: Oppose the Earn IT Act

#6

Post by cevn » Wed, Jul 01, 2020, 5:48 PM UTC

annoyingnoob wrote: post #2

We need to vote out the people pushing for backdoors. They seem to want backdoors at any cost, without any technical understanding of why its a terrible idea. Vote them out!

Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) - vote for Jamie Harrison on Nov 3 in SC

Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) - term ends in 2022*

Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) - 2024

Dianne Feinstein (D-California) - 2024 as well... good luck with this one

Re: Oppose the Earn IT Act

#7

Post by YetAnotherMatt » Wed, Jul 01, 2020, 5:50 PM UTC

danboarder wrote: post #4

Where are my elected representatives that represent my privacy rights on bills like this? Maybe I need to run for office since I care about end2end encryption, free software, and the rights of free people and information to freely travel around the world...

In Europe quite a few "pirate parties" popped up about a decade ago. None of them were too successful as far as I know, at least in The Netherlands they didn't mention to gain a single seat (out of 150).

Re: Oppose the Earn IT Act

#8

Post by mikestew » Wed, Jul 01, 2020, 5:50 PM UTC

danboarder wrote: post #4

Where are my elected representatives that represent my privacy rights on bills like this? Maybe I need to run for office since I care about end2end encryption, free software, and the rights of free people and information to freely travel around the world...

You can run, and with that platform your opponent will conveniently turn it around into "my opponent supports child molestors and terrorists". Because if you think you'll simply walk up to the podium talking about something most folks could not give a working definition for, boy, are you going to be in for a shock when your opponent "dumbs it down" for the audience.

Which is how we end up with stuff like the EARN IT Act that one would reasonably think would be shot down immediately, but isn't.

Re: Oppose the Earn IT Act

#9

Post by ocdtrekkie » Wed, Jul 01, 2020, 5:50 PM UTC

blintz wrote: post #3

I cannot believe that the one thing we have bipartisan consensus on is destroying strong encryption. I guess I’m biased since this is essentially my whole livelihood, but this is crazy, right?

We have bipartisan consensus[1] that tech companies have acted badly and that Section 230 should be repealed or significantly amended. I think EARN IT will probably kill Section 230, not strong encryption, so I think EARN IT is pretty great. Tech companies probably should be coming to the realization by now that it's only a matter of time (probably 4-8 years) before we close the 230 loophole: So if they're given a choice, they should choose to protect strong encryption, and forego Section 230 protection, since it's going away anyhow.

[1]Kind of, Democrats think tech companies got Trump elected, Republicans think tech companies are suppressing conservative viewpoints, but either way, they agree on the problem.

Re: Oppose the Earn IT Act

#10

Post by sailfast » Wed, Jul 01, 2020, 5:51 PM UTC

I reached out to my representatives on this when the Act was first proposed. I'm confused about the changes that have happened since that time and the post does not say anything about what has changed. What does "Advancing" mean in this case? If I have already contacted all of my legislators about strong encryption and opposition to this bill, what is the latest change that requires re-engaging?