>The House of Representatives is about to vote to amend section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
On Tuesday the House of Representatives is going to vote on amending the Communications Decency Act, gutting protections guaranteed under section 230.
The bill, HR1865 would make internet web site owners financially and legally liable for content on their sites with fines and imprisonment of up to 20 years. It is called FOSTA, Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act. Sounds noble, but opens up huge risks for internet freedom and does liddle to combat sex trafficking.
There are two terrible consequences that will come from this bill.
It will force site owners to brutally censor content. The stakes are too high to let anything even slightly questionable slip through.
It could be weaponized by anyone that doesn't like a site to take it down by posting questionable material. It could be something as simple as posting a pic of Brooke Shields when she was 12 years old. Your site is now hosting kiddy porn.
Think about it.
Looking for herbal remedies? Big Pharma takes down your favorite sites
Need to research a place to fish or hunt on vacation? Animal rights people take down your favorite sites.
Need to get some reloading data? Anti gunners take down your favorite sites.
Shopping for a new car? Petroleum hating kooks take down your favorite sites.
Looking for information on reproductive health? Right to lifers take down your favorite sites.
Looking for right to life activities? Abortion rights activists take down your favorite sites.
Looking for heirloom varieties of fruits and vegetables to grow? Monsanto takes down your favorite sites.
Looking for agricultural chemicals to address a weed problem? Rabid environmentalists take down Monsanto's site.
If you want to keep a free and open exchange of information flowing on the internet, call your congress critters and tell them to vote NO on HR1865.
https:// www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
https:// www.house.gov/representatives