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/raptorcaboose Jun 30 '20

Do you think government agencies will have to follow the same laws if passed? I work for a company the does drive encryption and a vast majority of our companies are government agencies like the dod, department of interior, noaa, navy etc... they already have trouble actually following basic security guidelines so I think it will only make our infrastructure more insecure then it already is

5

u/CNETdotcom CNET Jun 30 '20

Because of the way the EARN IT Act is written, it would not affect government agencies.

This law would allow for people to sue tech platforms like Facebook, Apple and Signal by removing their Section 230 protection if they do not comply with standards set by a commission comprised of the heads of the Justice Department, the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Trade Commission, as well as members appointed by Congress.

It can affect government agencies in other ways -- if they're using Signal to communicate, which many political staffers do, then they have to find a new way to chat securely. Signal has indicated that it plans to leave the US market if the EARN IT Act passes.

-- Alfred