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Friday, May 12, 2023
A11
Lawmakers push to protect exploited kids See Children, A13
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Technology platforms are shielded by Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, which states that “No provider of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information by another infor-
companies’ efforts to expand their encryption offerings, according to the Washington Post.
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“From 29 to 32 million of these images are on the internet,” Blumenthal said. “Not only is it a crime against children, but these images stay on the internet haunting children for their whole lives. That’s why it’s such a horrifying crime. Unfortunately many of our major platforms refuse to report it or remove them. The tech companies are complicit. They should be held accountable by law enforcement and the survivors themselves. Right now there is no law.”
have argued that cybercriminals also use end-to-end encryption to share CSAM —Child Sexual Abuse Material— and plan other crimes, and they’ve criticized tech
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That legal phrase shields tech companies that can host trillions of messages from being sued by anyone But U.S. Sen. Richard Bluwho feels wronged by somementhal, D-Connecticut, thing someone else has and U.S. Sen. Lindsay Graposted — whether legitimate ham, R-South Carolina, hope or not. to hold them responsible through a bipartsan bill that Twitter, Facebook, Instaholds platforms accountable gram, Tik Tok, Snapchat, Youtube and other more obto report and remove such images, or be held account- scure sites have abused that protection and should lose able in civil courts. immunity — or at least have The Earn It Act was apto earn it by satisfying reproved unanimously by the quirements set by the govJudiciary Committee last ernment, Blumenthal said. Thursday. The photographs But the measure faces oppoand video exhibits were so sition from technology graphic, lawmakers could lawyers and lobbyists, not show them during the backed by millions of dollars hearing, Blumenthal said. in campaign contributions, Blumenthal was joined by Blumenthal said. Parents, members of the state Devictims and 250 advocacy partment of Children and groups, including the NaFamilies and state police to tional Center for Missing share details of the act Friand Exploited Children, day at the State Police Diviback the Earn It Act. sion of Scientific Services on Cybersecurity advocates fear Colony Street. This is the third time the Earn It Act has that such changes could prompt tech companies to cleared the Judiciary Committee.
stop offering end-to-end encryption for their users. Such encryption helps protect data from hackers, governments and other snoops. Law enforcement officials
en
MERIDEN — Children who were exploited in sexual photos and videos are often haunted by those internet images years later because of shield laws that protect Big Tech.
mation content provider. Blumenthal supports a repeal of Section 230, allowing civil action against platforms that don’t report and remove abusive content is a start.
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By Mary Ellen Godin Record-Journal staff
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