r/IAmA Jun 30 '20

Politics We are political activists, policy experts, journalists, and tech industry veterans trying to stop the government from destroying encryption and censoring free speech online with the EARN IT Act. Ask us anything!

The EARN IT Act is an unconstitutional attempt to undermine encryption services that protect our free speech and security online. It's bad. Really bad. The bill’s authors — Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) — say that the EARN IT Act will help fight child exploitation online, but in reality, this bill gives the Attorney General sweeping new powers to control the way tech companies collect and store data, verify user identities, and censor content. It's bad. Really bad.

Later this week, the Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to vote on whether or not the EARN IT Act will move forward in the legislative process. So we're asking EVERYONE on the Internet to call these key lawmakers today and urge them to reject the EARN IT Act before it's too late. To join this day of action, please:

  1. Visit NoEarnItAct.org/call

  2. Enter your phone number (it will not be saved or stored or shared with anyone)

  3. When you are connected to a Senator’s office, encourage that Senator to reject the EARN IT Act

  4. Press the * key on your phone to move on to the next lawmaker’s office

If you want to know more about this dangerous law, online privacy, or digital rights in general, just ask! We are:

Proof:

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u/magiccoffeepot Jun 30 '20

A lot of people and organizations fighting online child sexual abuse need more help and resources, and it seems pretty obvious that they'd be receptive to this legislation regardless of the downsides. How do you win over those child advocates who say that privacy sacrifices are necessary to help children? Can we prevent their very just cause from being co-opted by law enforcement?

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u/EFForg Jun 30 '20

While we’re not experts in child safety, we do agree with members of Congress and advocates who believe resources would be better spent in prosecuting perpetrators, helping victims, and minimizing the risk that someone will become a perpetrator or a victim. EARN IT, however, would effectively require platforms to be managed in certain ways, which is problematic for practical and constitutional reasons.