Action Alert: Call Senators – Support Bill to End Child Sexual Exploitation Online

June 30, 2020  

PREVENT ONLINE CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE 

It has been estimated that there are 48 million images of child sexual abuse on the internet; it is a multi-million-dollar business for sex predators who not only view such images but film the abuse and post online for paid subscribers. Both The Washington Post and The New York Times published extensive reports recently about the explosive growth of child sexual exploitation on the internet and the inability under current law to prevent posting of these horrendous images. 

On Thursday, July 2, the Senate Judiciary Committee will be voting on the EARN IT Act, (Eliminating Abusive & Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies Act, S. 3398). This rare bipartisan bill was introduced in March by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Josh Hawley (R- MO), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC),   

HOW WE CAN DO THIS: 

The Earn It Act  makes the Internet’s immunity from liability CONDITIONAL on complying with best business practices to: a) Prevent online sexual exploitation including enticement, recruiting, grooming, and sex trafficking; and b) Prevent and reduce the proliferation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).   

The Earn It Act creates a new National Commission on Online Child Sexual Exploitation Prevention, charged with enforcing accountability on interactive digital platforms. A commission can be flexible in the face of fast-changing technology and online risks that often emerge overnight–a reality no legislative body is nimble enough to track or oversee.   

Having lost the battle over sex trafficking in 2018 when FOSTA-SESTA was approved, preventing use of the internet to solicit prostitution – #BigTech has bitterly fought against the Earn It Act spreading non-facts about the bill’s impact.  

ACTION NEEDED: 

We need your help to contact members of the Senate Judiciary Committee to say: Vote For Earn It on July 2 in Committee. More talking points in support of the Earn It Act can be found at this link.  

If your state has a Senator on the Judiciary Committee, call their offices ASAP. Leave a message: VOTE FOR THE EARN IT ACT ON JULY 2 IN COMMITTEE! Or if your senator is a sponsor, thank her/him for their support and urge them to get the EARN IT Act to a successful floor vote. 

Here are the Senate Judiciary Committee members, addition to the four sponsors listed at the beginning:  

Sponsors: Sens. Sheldon White House (D-RI), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and John Kennedy (R-LA). 

NOT Sponsors: Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), John Cornyn (R-TX), Mike Lee (R-UT, Ted Cruz (R-TX), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Sasse (R-NE), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tom Tillis (R-NC), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Cary Booker (D-NJ), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Mike Crapo (R-ID), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).  

Here’s the link to the Senate Directory – please make the call now: https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?Class=1 

Or you can dial the U.S. Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121. 

Thanks for all that you do for NOW!