H.R. 1865, the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act and S.B. 1693, the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act currently sit with the House and Senate Commerce and Judiciary Committees. These two bills would amend the Communications Decency Act (CDA) to ensure websites that facilitate sex trafficking can be held accountable for their role in this egregious crime. You can learn more about this important issue here. Please add your name to the petition below, to tell the members of the House and Senate Commerce and Judiciary Committees that you support amending the CDA!
Petition to Amend the Communications Decency Act
Chairman Senator John Thune and Members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation
Chairman Senator Chuck Grassley and Members of the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary
Chairman Representative Greg Walden and Members of U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee
Chairman Representative Bob Goodlatte and Members of the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee
Dear Chairmen and Members,
Sex trafficking is exploding online, finding haven in websites and internet-based marketplaces that provide a platform for the buying and selling of people for sex. Despite the investigation by the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, evidencing these websites’ knowing facilitation of the crime, websites continue to successfully hide behind a misinterpreted provision of the Communications Decency Act (CDA). Section 230 of the CDA was never intended to protect entities that knowingly facilitate sex trafficking and yet, courts have repeatedly interpreted Section 230 as providing blanket immunity for online entities, including online entities that knowingly facilitate sex trafficking.
As a concerned citizen, I urge your Committees to take up H.R. 1865, the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act and S.B. 1693, the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act of 2017. This set of legislation is critical for restoring access to justice for victims of sex trafficking and for allowing states to hold offending websites liable for their role in sex trafficking crimes.
While the tech industry is fighting any amendment to the CDA, seeking protection of their profits over that of human life, I am asking you to listen to and prioritize the voices of sex trafficking survivors.
Please take up the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act and the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act of 2017 in your committees and move them forward for a full vote.
Thank you for your commitment to this issue,
Sincerely,