Congress and the internet's freedom

[Alienslayer2406]

Congress is currently trying to pass a handful of harmful internet bills that will severely impact human rights and privacy on the internet. Two of the most important are the EARN IT Act and the Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA.

The EARN IT Act is a bipartisan bill that could eliminate online encryption, and allows internet censorship. It was introduced in recent years to massive opposition from numerous groups. Congress has remade EARN IT as the Stop CASM Act and the Cooper-Davis Act in order to slip it through the cracks.

The Kids Online Safety Act would essentially wipe the internet clean of anything deemed inappropriate for children; while this sounds good on paper, it will allow censorship of anything certain politicians don't like, and will cut off support for LGBT people. It would also expand online surveillance of minors through age-verification and parental monitoring tools, which could be harmful to minors trying to escape domestic abuse.

Congress is trying to sneak the Stop CASM Act and the Cooper-Davis act into the NDAA in order to pass EARN IT without anyone's knowledge.

This website goes into great detail about these bills and how they will affect us. I GREATLY implore you to visit this site to learn more, as there's more than a single post can contain: https://www.badinternetbills.com/

EARN IT:
The EARN IT Act of 2023 threatens to undermine online encryption by punishing companies that provide encryption services. And by repeating the same mistakes as a previous bill called SESTA/FOSTA, it would lead to widespread Internet censorship and crackdowns on marginalized communities. When EARN IT was previously introduced in 2020 and 2022, it was shelved in the face of overwhelming public outcry and opposition from human rights groups. Now, lawmakers are introducing EARN IT for a third time, hoping to pass it and break the internet while we’re distracted.

KOSA:
KOSA claims to make kids safer, but it’s really a dangerous censorship bill that would give the government unprecedented control over the internet. This would put youth in danger by preventing them from accessing potentially life-saving resources. Lawmakers concerned about online safety should reject KOSA and instead work to protect all internet users from abusive tech companies by passing a Federal data privacy law.

RESTRICT ACT:
Lawmakers claim the RESTRICT Act addresses privacy and security concerns around TikTok. But this is about so much more than just TikTok. RESTRICT gives Biden (and all future presidents!) extraordinary new powers to ban Americans from using entire apps simply by claiming they pose a “threat to national security,” outside of any democratic process. Politicians are pushing this bill to show they’re “tough on China”—but instead of protecting us, this law would lead to an internet censored by the president.

AGE-GATING BILLS:
Regressive states across the country are taking away teenagers’ online rights. It started in Utah with two laws that create a mandated social media “bedtime” and give parents complete control over their kids’ accounts, messages, and passwords. Utah lawmakers claim their curfew-and-control bills help children, but these bills actually make children less safe by increasing state and parental surveillance and restricting access to community. To make matters worse, legislation like this is spreading. Arkansas has passed a copycat bill. Louisiana and Texas are trying to follow Utah’s lead, and it’s been introduced federally in Congress.

STOP CASM:
STOP CSAM wouldn’t actually stop CSAM. Instead, it would make CSAM cases harder to prosecute—like SESTA/FOSTA before it—while reducing privacy protections in ways that would harm vulnerable people. Like EARN IT, STOP CSAM undermines end-to-end encryption, a technology that’s vital for LGBTQ+ youth, survivors of interpersonal violence and stalking, abortion seekers and providers, and activists. Weakening E2EE as a means to funnel more information to law enforcement also sets an alarming precedent for government surveillance. All of us, including children, need to be able to communicate in the digital age without our conversations being spied on.

COOPER-DAVIS:
The Cooper Davis Act is a misguided attempt to address the public health crisis caused by fentanyl in many communities in the US. The bill does more harm than good: opening the door for increased surveillance of messaging and damaging encryption that ensures digital security online, another EARN IT Act copycat bill. More surveillance will not solve a public health crisis. End-to-end encryption is not a public safety threat. Secure, private messaging protects people’s privacy and should be protected.

These bills are very detrimental to online privacy and freedom of expression. Remember the recent Ao3 shutdown or Tumblr NSFW ban? Imagine that but across the entire internet. We have until the end of the month to stop this, though it could be passed at any moment until then and they would go into effect immediately.

This is an URGENT matter and preemptive action is absolutely necessary. I cannot overstate how important this is.

The best way to prevent this is to contact the senate and voice concerns. Here is a list of people who showed opposition to the EARN IT Act. Call these numbers and voice your opposition to EARN IT's copycats or any of these bills being allowed into the NDAA. https://www.badinternetbills.com/ will also automatically email your members of congress and will provide you with a call script.

Chuck Schumer (D-NY) [phone]

Maria Cantwell (D-WA) [phone]

Jon Ossof (D-GA) (202)-224-3521

Alex Padilla (D-CA) [phone]

Cory Booker (D-NJ) [phone]

Mike Lee (R-UT) [phone]

I don't normally show support for stuff like this, but I will if my freedom and privacy on the internet are in jeopardy. I would greatly appreciate it if you could do the same.

If I have made any grammatical or factual errors, please let me know and I will edit accordingly.

[kingjames488]

引用自 Plaid：

what's with the personal attack on Alienslayer2406?

it's what people do when they don't have a related point to make...

[HypersleepyNaputunia]

what does Ras Al Gore have to say about it? Since he invented the internet

54 seconds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnFJ8cHAlco

[Boblin the Goblin]

引用自 Chalupabaras：

引用自 Alienslayer2406：

I didn't intend for this to be "political bait". I was concerned about developments regarding something I cared for, and wanted to warn others of it. Might I ask what exactly disgusts you about what I said?

The problem with bills like these is they can easily be abused by biased lawmakers. KOSA, for example, would essentially force sites to purge and disallow content deemed inappropriate for minors. This sounds nice on the surface, but then you have to take into account how so much of the right considers the LGBT community to be inherently sexual, and "sexual" content would be more-or-less banned by KOSA. Indirectly censoring LGBT people.

These bills aren't black and white; they can have both good and bad parts to them. I'm sure nobody wants child sex trafficking to go unpunished, but there has to be a solution that isn't detrimental to other people.

No, the problem with these bills is that they're exactly what you wished for.

He's literally against them.

[Boblin the Goblin]

引用自 Chalupabaras：

引用自 SlowMango：

He's literally against them.

Well yeah, NOW he is. It wasn't a problem when Pride was hellbent on scrubbing the Internet and censoring straight people.

The only viable solution to resolve this would be to repeal the 14th Amendment, and he'd have better luck repealing the entire U.S. Constitution.

What the ♥♥♥♥ are you talking about?

[Alienslayer2406]

引用自 Chalupabaras：

No, the problem with these bills is that they're exactly what you wished for.

引用自 Chalupabaras：

引用自 SlowMango：

He's literally against them.

Well yeah, NOW he is. It wasn't a problem when Pride was hellbent on scrubbing the Internet and censoring straight people.

The only viable solution to resolve this would be to repeal the 14th Amendment, and he'd have better luck repealing the entire U.S. Constitution.

Apologies for not responding sooner, I've been in town all day and just logged on.

First of all, what's this about the LGBT community censoring people? Are you talking about cancel culture? I'm pretty sure the cancel culture people are a very vocal minority; most people in the LGBT community that I've seen online are bothered by that as well. I was against that then, and I still am. I believe that truly terrible people don't deserve a platform, but I disagree with most components of cancel culture.

The thing is, I don't really know what you're referencing, so I can't address it properly. I would appreciate it if you could be more specific. I haven't always been interested in politics, so there might be something I don't know.

Second, why would I want to repeal the 14th amendment? How would that resolve this? I feel like to repeal the 14th amendment would take away a lot of freedom for people. I honestly don't understand how I could've given you the impression that I want these bills, unless I haven't worded my arguments correctly.

[Boblin the Goblin]

引用自 Alienslayer2406：

引用自 Chalupabaras：

No, the problem with these bills is that they're exactly what you wished for.

引用自 Chalupabaras：

Well yeah, NOW he is. It wasn't a problem when Pride was hellbent on scrubbing the Internet and censoring straight people.

The only viable solution to resolve this would be to repeal the 14th Amendment, and he'd have better luck repealing the entire U.S. Constitution.

Apologies for not responding sooner, I've been in town all day and just logged on.

First of all, what's this about the LGBT community censoring people? Are you talking about cancel culture? I'm pretty sure the cancel culture people are a very vocal minority; most people in the LGBT community that I've seen online are bothered by that as well. I was against that then, and I still am. I believe that truly terrible people don't deserve a platform, but I disagree with most components of cancel culture.

The thing is, I don't really know what you're referencing, so I can't address it properly. I would appreciate it if you could be more specific. I haven't always been interested in politics, so there might be something I don't know.

Second, why would I want to repeal the 14th amendment? How would that resolve this? I feel like to repeal the 14th amendment would take away a lot of freedom for people. I honestly don't understand how I could've given you the impression that I want these bills, unless I haven't worded my arguments correctly.

I don't think it has anything to do with how you worded your arguments.

[BigBallinChester]

引用自 ⛧：

Utah, Louisiana, Virginia, Mississippi, and Arkansas have all passed bills that require ID age-verification to access sites with adult content starting this year.

The internet lockdown is starting.

Brought to you by Nord VPN

[Boblin the Goblin]

引用自 Chalupabaras：

引用自 Alienslayer2406：

Apologies for not responding sooner, I've been in town all day and just logged on.

No worries, life happens. Hope your day went well.

First of all, what's this about the LGBT community censoring people? Are you talking about cancel culture? I'm pretty sure the cancel culture people are a very vocal minority; most people in the LGBT community that I've seen online are bothered by that as well. I was against that then, and I still am. I believe that truly terrible people don't deserve a platform, but I disagree with most components of cancel culture.

I said "Pride", not the LGBT Community. I'd really appreciate it if you didn't insult my friends over in Wilton Manors, many of whom were my business associates and mentors, by equating them with the likes of Ezra Miller's fanbase.

If you want to understand why your argument is unquestionably the most... cringe, as today's kids would call it, I recommend visiting Wilton Manors and ask them in person. It's a lot easier than asking people online, plus the town's got some fantastic Bucket List-level bakeries.

The thing is, I don't really know what you're referencing, so I can't address it properly. I would appreciate it if you could be more specific. I haven't always been interested in politics, so there might be something I don't know.

The confusion is understandable, I've been an active player in the game for almost 40 years. You really should get involved in the process because the experience makes "Squid Game" look like tiddlywinks.

Second, why would I want to repeal the 14th amendment? How would that resolve this? I feel like to repeal the 14th amendment would take away a lot of freedom for people. I honestly don't understand how I could've given you the impression that I want these bills, unless I haven't worded my arguments correctly.

The 14th Amendment is the U.S. Constitution's Equal Rights Amendment. It ensures that all laws passed at the state level apply to all American citizens residing in within the state that passed said laws, regardless of age, race, gender, nationality, religion, creed, and sexual orientation. Rules for thee, and for me.

Repealing the 14th Amendment would allow discriminatory application of the laws, which is your argument's underlying basis in suggesting Congress is currently plotting against Pride and the trans community. The reality is that the 14th Amendment is in the Bill of Rights, which means that even if your argument were true, and that Congress is indeed planning to throw the LGBT, Pride and trans communities to the wolves... they don't have the Constitutional authority to do so.

Repealing the 14th would allow Congress to enact discriminatory laws against straight people. But the 14th Amendment deals with all Americans as one nation, united, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Knowledge like that is why I'm on good terms with the LGBT community, but Pride agreed to not target me a second time.

You literally didn't actually answer his question or explain anything.

You haven't been "targeted" by "Pride" like some super villain.

[Chesmu]

"It would also expand online surveillance of minors through age-verification and parental monitoring tools, which could be harmful to minors trying to escape domestic abuse"

Parents constantly monitoring their child's activity is not abuse. It's essential. If there is a need to escape, it doesn't require internet

"Lawmakers claim the RESTRICT Act addresses privacy and security concerns around TikTok. But this is about so much more than just TikTok. RESTRICT gives Biden (and all future presidents!) extraordinary new powers to ban Americans from using entire apps simply by claiming they pose a “threat to national security,” outside of any democratic process."

That's great that they are trying to ban all these cringe social media apps and their own brainwashing machines. Those apps are a threat to all countries on Earth, not just USA.

" Utah lawmakers claim their curfew-and-control bills help children, but these bills actually make children less safe by increasing state and parental surveillance and restricting access to community. "

I'm not sure why you think children are safer with a "community" of strangers rather than their parents? There is nothing for you to worry about here, it's a good change.

"All of us, including children, need to be able to communicate in the digital age without our conversations being spied on."

This is not true, as there is absolutely no need to "communicate" with random and unknown strangers online, especially about important matters. Talk to people in real life in your local area, your family or your relatives instead.

"This is an URGENT matter and preemptive action is absolutely necessary. I cannot overstate how important this is."

The only Urgent matter is the problem with internet encryption going away, that's just it which with "We collect data" "We use cookies" etc was already started long time ago, and with data collection being the main business of this date, there is no stopping more information leak.

[Boblin the Goblin]

引用自 Chesmu：

"It would also expand online surveillance of minors through age-verification and parental monitoring tools, which could be harmful to minors trying to escape domestic abuse"

Parents constantly monitoring their child's activity is not abuse. It's essential. If there is a need to escape, it doesn't require internet

"Lawmakers claim the RESTRICT Act addresses privacy and security concerns around TikTok. But this is about so much more than just TikTok. RESTRICT gives Biden (and all future presidents!) extraordinary new powers to ban Americans from using entire apps simply by claiming they pose a “threat to national security,” outside of any democratic process."

That's great that they are trying to ban all these cringe social media apps and their own brainwashing machines. Those apps are a threat to all countries on Earth, not just USA.

" Utah lawmakers claim their curfew-and-control bills help children, but these bills actually make children less safe by increasing state and parental surveillance and restricting access to community. "

I'm not sure why you think children are safer with a "community" of strangers rather than their parents? There is nothing for you to worry about here, it's a good change.

"All of us, including children, need to be able to communicate in the digital age without our conversations being spied on."

This is not true, as there is absolutely no need to "communicate" with random and unknown strangers online, especially about important matters. Talk to people in real life in your local area, your family or your relatives instead.

"This is an URGENT matter and preemptive action is absolutely necessary. I cannot overstate how important this is."

The only Urgent matter is the problem with internet encryption going away, that's just it which with "We collect data" "We use cookies" etc was already started long time ago, and with data collection being the main business of this date, there is no stopping more information leak.

You are literally agreeing to throw out everyone's privacy just to increase state monitoring "for the children".

You say it's the parents job but then agree with the government given more more to monitor children.

[Chesmu]

引用自 SlowMango：

You are literally agreeing to throw out everyone's privacy just to increase state monitoring "for the children".

You say it's the parents job but then agree with the government given more more to monitor children.

All state does is identifying if they are kids, then forcing them to get monitored by their parents. Since a lot of parents are irresponsible, there is nothing wrong with having doors, alarms and locks on the internet.

[Boblin the Goblin]

引用自 Chesmu：

引用自 SlowMango：

You are literally agreeing to throw out everyone's privacy just to increase state monitoring "for the children".

You say it's the parents job but then agree with the government given more more to monitor children.

All state does is identifying if they are kids, then forcing them to get monitored by their parents. Since a lot of parents are irresponsible, there is nothing wrong with having doors, alarms and locks on the internet.

The star doesn't need to know.

[Alienslayer2406]

引用自 Chalupabaras：

引用自 Alienslayer2406：

Apologies for not responding sooner, I've been in town all day and just logged on.

No worries, life happens. Hope your day went well.

First of all, what's this about the LGBT community censoring people? Are you talking about cancel culture? I'm pretty sure the cancel culture people are a very vocal minority; most people in the LGBT community that I've seen online are bothered by that as well. I was against that then, and I still am. I believe that truly terrible people don't deserve a platform, but I disagree with most components of cancel culture.

I said "Pride", not the LGBT Community. I'd really appreciate it if you didn't insult my friends over in Wilton Manors, many of whom were my business associates and mentors, by equating them with the likes of Ezra Miller's fanbase.

If you want to understand why your argument is unquestionably the most... cringe, as today's kids would call it, I recommend visiting Wilton Manors and ask them in person. It's a lot easier than asking people online, plus the town's got some fantastic Bucket List-level bakeries.

The thing is, I don't really know what you're referencing, so I can't address it properly. I would appreciate it if you could be more specific. I haven't always been interested in politics, so there might be something I don't know.

The confusion is understandable, I've been an active player in the game for almost 40 years. You really should get involved in the process because the experience makes "Squid Game" look like tiddlywinks.

Second, why would I want to repeal the 14th amendment? How would that resolve this? I feel like to repeal the 14th amendment would take away a lot of freedom for people. I honestly don't understand how I could've given you the impression that I want these bills, unless I haven't worded my arguments correctly.

The 14th Amendment is the U.S. Constitution's Equal Rights Amendment. It ensures that all laws passed at the state level apply to all American citizens residing in within the state that passed said laws, regardless of age, race, gender, nationality, religion, creed, and sexual orientation. Rules for thee, and for me.

Repealing the 14th Amendment would allow discriminatory application of the laws, which is your argument's underlying basis in suggesting Congress is currently plotting against Pride and the trans community. The reality is that the 14th Amendment is in the Bill of Rights, which means that even if your argument were true, and that Congress is indeed planning to throw the LGBT, Pride and trans communities to the wolves... they don't have the Constitutional authority to do so.

Repealing the 14th would allow Congress to enact discriminatory laws against straight people. But the 14th Amendment deals with all Americans as one nation, united, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Knowledge like that is why I'm on good terms with the LGBT community, but Pride agreed to not target me a second time.

Then what exactly is this "Pride" you keep talking about? I wasn't trying to insult anyone, but if you say Pride in that context and manner, I'm obviously going to think of the LGBT community first. And I'm not going all the way to Florida just to figure out why my internet argument is flawed.

The 14th amendment sounds great and aligns nicely with my political views. I see no reason to change it. However, I don't think Congress cares if they have the constitutional authority to do something. Amendments have been changed in the past, and if Congress really cared they wouldn't be trying to pass these laws to begin with.

[Alienslayer2406]

引用自 Chalupabaras：

引用自 Alienslayer2406：

The 14th amendment sounds great and aligns nicely with my political views. I see no reason to change it. However, I don't think Congress cares if they have the constitutional authority to do something. Amendments have been changed in the past, and if Congress really cared they wouldn't be trying to pass these laws to begin with.

Except that KOSA is, in fact, well within Congress' authority to pass with a simple majority, if so decided. Here's the actual bill, on record as it currently stands under review by the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Technology:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/1409/text?s=1&r=2

The bill's current framework falls under federal regulatory agencies responsible for holding platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Discord, Reddit, Twitter, Twitch, etc. accountable in the event of operational negligence which results in the physical, mental and/or financial harm towards a minor (or minors) under the age of 13 years old.

It forces online platforms to not treat minors under the age of 13 as an unlimited user data mine for targeted marketing of inappropriate advertising. YouTube's notorious for showing tobacco and beer ads to minors, even when the account's settings prohibit them.

There's other parts of this bill that would require online platforms to provide parents with the means to manage and moderate their childrens' usage of their account's services. Instead of letting Google do whatever it wants to the children without liability, the parents are now in charge of making sure their kids develop better personal and social decision-making skills.

It's something parents have demanded for years. So yes, Congress has full authority to act on behalf of the American people because that's Congress' job. Feel free to read the actual bill, it's pretty short by Senate standards but long enough to cover everything.

But can you trust what Congress' official website says? I've heard the bill was updated to include weakened language. This isn't the first time they've hidden stuff from us, or made something seem good at first. We've just learned the US has had a UFO retrieval program for decades, for goodness sake.

I've found an article online that has some very interesting viewpoints on KOSA. I highly recommend.
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2022/03/kids-online-safety-act-heavy-handed-plan-force-platforms-spy-young-people

I've seen some people in this thread show support for the parental monitoring tools that KOSA would enforce. I want to provide some perspective on this.

Let's say there was a minor in an abusive home who realized they were gay, and their father was a "beat the gay out of them" type. The minor in question uses the internet for help and research regarding such things. Then their father uses KOSA's monitoring tools to see their search history. That wouldn't end well, would it?

Let's say there was another minor who lived in a domestic abuse situation, where they were at an even larger threat of physical harm than the last example, and they tried to use the internet to ask someone for help. Using these tools, the abuser could find out. How many times has domestic abuse ended in murder?

Believe me, I want children to be safe online, and I'm sure even those opposing this bill want that as well, but not this way. Everyone, from children to adults, are entitled to their own privacy on the internet, and some of us are in more unfortunate situations than others.

Anyway, KOSA was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee today by an unanimous voice vote, alongside a revised version of COPPA. I'm not sure what this means, but it's worth keeping an eye on:
https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/27/23809876/kosa-coppa-2-child-safety-privacy-protection-social-media

[ShadowShifterMarlith]

Congress is currently trying to pass a handful of harmful internet bills that will severely impact human rights and privacy on the internet.




When are they trying to pass this & have this Bill go live to the Public?

I haven't seen anything being done about it?