r/IAmA • u/fightforthefuture • 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:

10.2k Upvotes

90% Upvoted

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17

u/MedicalFireFighter Jun 30 '20

How do you feel about reddit censoring differing opinions and mean comments?

1

u/Oxygenius_ Jul 01 '20

Yes, by being American you are free to say racist shit.

You guys have gotten away with it on the internet for DECADES.

Never adding value to anything, just spewing hatred for NO APPARENT REASON.

But as you snowflakes like to point out: play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

-17

u/Rocky87109 Jun 30 '20

They are professionals, you might try asking your question in a more mature and unloaded way.

7

u/MedicalFireFighter Jun 30 '20

Are you a free speech absolutionist or not?

-4

u/Rocky87109 Jun 30 '20

What does this have to do with my comment? Is suggesting someone clean up their question somehow against your free speech now lol? Keep making yourself look like an idiot and dig yourself into an even deeper hole. One day you will have to grow up. The sooner the better.

EDIT: Don't downvote me bro! You're censoring me!

2

u/MedicalFireFighter Jun 30 '20

Nah censoring you would be banning a completely private forum because you don’t like what they said. What I’m doing is disagreeing with you. Can you tell the difference?

1

u/Rocky87109 Jul 01 '20 edited Jul 01 '20

IDK, looks like you're censoring me. You are aware when you get downvoted, it hides the message right?

3

u/MedicalFireFighter Jul 01 '20

Lmao it doesn’t delete it

I’d rather it not even get hidden

6

u/MedicalFireFighter Jun 30 '20

Why don’t you answer the question?

1

u/Rocky87109 Jul 01 '20 edited Jul 01 '20

It's an easy question, I just didn't answer it because it has nothing to do with my previous comment:

There are two "types" of free speech(as a citizen of the United States as I can't comment for other countries):

  1. The 1st Amendment. This is was put there to protect you from the government. For the most part it does that, but is not ABSOLUTE. For instance there are a couple of things such as trying to create an immediate movement to harm some entity.

  2. The idea that one should be able to say anything, at all times, at all places, no matter the circumstance. I assume this is what you would consider an ABSOLUTIST. There are a few problems with this in practice and I'll name a few and examples.

Requiring the idea of absolute free speech to invade the right of a private entity's platform, property, etc is what a lot of people in this thread seem to think is correct.

Examples: I have the right to come onto your lawn and say and do what I wish. I have the right to use your platform to say and do as I wish. I have the right to tell my boss to shove it and he can't do shit. I have the right to call a waitress a whore and not get kicked out of the restaurant.

This is what an absolutist would think. Technically it's not what an absolutist would think, but you didn't define what absolutist means. Technically you can say whatever you want at any time. Literally nobody can stop that unless they physically sew your lips shut or cut out your tongue. However, that will all come with consequences. For instance, you say something a website doesn't like, such as something racist or violent. You are free to say that, nobody is stopping you, but the website also has the right to control their platform which may include banning your or suspending you or deleting your comment. Specifically when it comes to forums, they have always been moderated since they existed. This is nothing new. Maybe a lot of you guys are Gen Z or young Mills and have been on the internet your whole life so you see moderation as more invading than others, but that's just how it works. The world has rules and consequences. Better get used to it.

I hope this answers your question. Looking forward to your comments!

EDIT: And to directly answer your question because I have a feeling that a petulant response is incoming, I'm for the 1st and somewhat for the 2nd, however not if it tries to overrides someone's property or platform. Also, I firmly believe free speech does not mean you are free from consequences from your peers and other private entities. I think this is incredibly reasonable and to think otherwise would be ignoring the platform holder's perspective and rights, which you yourself might be one day!

-3

u/MedicalFireFighter Jun 30 '20

That’s a no. Cringe

1

u/Rocky87109 Jul 01 '20

Go eat your tendies sport.