"Covered platform’’ means a commercial software application or electronic service that connects to the internet and that is used, or is reasonably likely to be used, by a minor.
Who writes these definitions? Is a website an "electronic service"? Will every webcomic that runs ads or sells merch have to endure an annual audit?
I keep trying to say something intelligible about that Facebook-to-Amazon comparison, but my brain jumps the rails every time. Is it incompetent? Malicious? A synergy of both?
EARN IT will undoubtedly make the CSAM problem worse by making it more difficult for companies to track CSAM down and report it, and more difficult for law enforcement to track down an arrest those actually responsible for it.
If I were a Senator, I would rather not be remembered for doing this.
Of course, we all know how it'll play out: the law passes, CSAM gets worse, politicians rise up to say we need an even stronger law to stop the rising tide....
Between this, yesterday's announcement that YouTube is teasing NFTs, the various moves in the UK and EU to regulate away encryption... does anyone else get the feeling that as far as being a potentially good thing, the Internet is, well, over? Like, there was this interval in history where it seemed like we could actually build this technology into something good for education, for communication and understanding, for commerce and competition, but now it's "we're building a surveillance state to benefit robber barons, and you'll thank us for it".
I am gravely concerned to see that Sen. Warren has co-sponsored a Republican bill to repeal the foundational document of Internet regulation known as Section 230. This is terrible on policy grounds: even those experts who support some type of regulatory reform agree that a total repeal of 230 would entrench monopolies and make it harder to moderate content and thus harder to fight online hate speech. Beyond that, it is terrible on optics: allying with the senator who fist-bumped the January 6th coup attempt?
The Senator is, I'm sure, aware that regulatory changes require planning and evidence-based investigation. Indeed, it was not long ago that the Senator co-introduced the SAFE SEX Workers Study Act, which would have tasked the Department of Health and Human Services with investigating the effects of SESTA/FOSTA, the previous change to Section 230.
On any subject as complex as Internet regulation, there will be times when reasonable people can differ. But this is a moment when the Senator owes the public an explanation.
I voted for the Senator in the 2020 primary because I liked the candidate who "had a plan for that". What's the plan now?
While it may have no problem stripping UK residents of strong data and communication protections, it may find it more difficult to talk powerful businesses into accepting less-than-solid protections for their financial interactions and transmission of sensitive proprietary info.
It's gonna be interesting to see how the City responds to this....
“I do intend to seek legal counsel on the situation though,” Rochko told TPM, while declining to discuss any specific legal action he may be contemplating. “Compliance with our AGPLv3 license is very important to me as that is the sole basis upon which I and other developers are willing to give away years of work for free,” Rochko added.
On the post: Whatever Problem EARN IT Is Trying To Solve, It Doesn't
So, Sen. Blumenthal doesn't want to fund the police.
On the post: Blackburn & Blumenthal Introduce Terrible, Dangerous Bill To Make Sure Children Are Constantly Surveilled Online
Who writes these definitions? Is a website an "electronic service"? Will every webcomic that runs ads or sells merch have to endure an annual audit?
On the post: Senator Wyden: EARN IT Will Make Children Less Safe
And here's the EFF's call-to-action page, for those curious.
On the post: Senators' 'Myths & Facts' About EARN IT Is Mostly Myths, Not Facts
I keep trying to say something intelligible about that Facebook-to-Amazon comparison, but my brain jumps the rails every time. Is it incompetent? Malicious? A synergy of both?
On the post: Senate's New EARN IT Bill Will Make Child Exploitation Problem Worse, Not Better, And Still Attacks Encryption
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Yes, here's the list.
On the post: Senate's New EARN IT Bill Will Make Child Exploitation Problem Worse, Not Better, And Still Attacks Encryption
Re:
It currently has nineteen cosponsors after being announced yesterday. I don't see how it fails to become law.
On the post: Senate's New EARN IT Bill Will Make Child Exploitation Problem Worse, Not Better, And Still Attacks Encryption
If I were a Senator, I would rather not be remembered for doing this.
Of course, we all know how it'll play out: the law passes, CSAM gets worse, politicians rise up to say we need an even stronger law to stop the rising tide....
On the post: House Introduces 'Innovation' Act That Will Kill Innovation
Between this, yesterday's announcement that YouTube is teasing NFTs, the various moves in the UK and EU to regulate away encryption... does anyone else get the feeling that as far as being a potentially good thing, the Internet is, well, over? Like, there was this interval in history where it seemed like we could actually build this technology into something good for education, for communication and understanding, for commerce and competition, but now it's "we're building a surveillance state to benefit robber barons, and you'll thank us for it".
On the post: Appeals Court Says It's Entirely Possible For Cops To Pinpoint Marijuana Odors In Moving Cars
JFC.
Nobody who says "marijuana cigarette" should be considered an expert.
"The marihuana cigarette, or 'reef cockroach'..."
On the post: [UPDATE] Elizabeth Warren Is NOT Cosponsoring A Bill To Repeal 230
Re: Re: Update
The "thought Y was short for yikes" explanation wouldn't be far from the mark.
On the post: [UPDATE] Elizabeth Warren Is NOT Cosponsoring A Bill To Repeal 230
Re:
Yep. Facebook will live, and Wikipedia will die. Sounds like a bad trade to me.
On the post: [UPDATE] Elizabeth Warren Is NOT Cosponsoring A Bill To Repeal 230
The letter I just sent:
I am gravely concerned to see that Sen. Warren has co-sponsored a Republican bill to repeal the foundational document of Internet regulation known as Section 230. This is terrible on policy grounds: even those experts who support some type of regulatory reform agree that a total repeal of 230 would entrench monopolies and make it harder to moderate content and thus harder to fight online hate speech. Beyond that, it is terrible on optics: allying with the senator who fist-bumped the January 6th coup attempt?
The Senator is, I'm sure, aware that regulatory changes require planning and evidence-based investigation. Indeed, it was not long ago that the Senator co-introduced the SAFE SEX Workers Study Act, which would have tasked the Department of Health and Human Services with investigating the effects of SESTA/FOSTA, the previous change to Section 230.
On any subject as complex as Internet regulation, there will be times when reasonable people can differ. But this is a moment when the Senator owes the public an explanation.
I voted for the Senator in the 2020 primary because I liked the candidate who "had a plan for that". What's the plan now?
Regards,
Blake C. Stacey
On the post: Monster Energy Buys A Brewery; Trademark Lawsuits Are Almost Sure To Follow
Didn't Monster also get criticized in the not-too-distant past for slave labor in its supply chain?
On the post: Meta Sues Firm For Data Scraping; Claims That Signing Up For New Accounts After Being Banned Is Equivalent Of Hacking
"Facebook versus data scrapers" sounds like "the people lose, the lawyers win".
On the post: UK Government Apparently Hoping It Can Regulate End-To-End Encryption Out Of Existence
It's gonna be interesting to see how the City responds to this....
On the post: Germany's New Government Promises To Support End-To-End Encryption And Reject Backdoors
Negotiations over EU tech policy must set some kind of record for the combination of consequential and incomprehensible.
On the post: Birds Aren't Real, And Kids Are Not So Susceptible To Conspiracy Theories (Their Parents On The Other Hand...)
But what are birds? We just don't know.
On the post: Court Tells MyPillow CEO That Allegedly Dating An Actress And Buying Her Alcohol Isn't Defamatory
MyPillow versus the Daily Mail ... where did I put all those "let them fight" GIFs?!
On the post: Texas Court Gets It Right: Dumps Texas's Social Media Moderation Law As Clearly Unconstitutional
(bleak laughter)
On the post: Trump Announces His Own Social Network, 'Truth Social,' Which Says It Can Kick Off Users For Any Reason (And Already Is)
Talking Points Memo has a story on it this morning:
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