With Vote Expected, Tech Industry Remains Divided Over FOSTA

"Tech stakeholders remain divided over anti-sex trafficking legislation the Senate is poised to vote on this week, those on both sides told us. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, author of the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA) (S-1693) (see 1803020024) plans to pursue the House-approved version of the bill, the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA) (HR-1865). Facebook and the Internet Association support the House measure, but several tech groups remain concerned about the process in which the bills were combined in the House, and fearful the legislation will result in widespread censorship of content.

...Committee for Justice President Curt Levey anticipates the legislation passing the Senate because all groups are against sex trafficking, not because it’s wise legislation. 'You could name 10 other causes, from saving puppies to keeping our schools safe, where everyone is going to be afraid to oppose even bad legislation that makes further exceptions to [Section] 230' of the Communications Decency Act, he said..."

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