Today, I want to focus on an issue that isn't getting a lot of media attention. But that is precisely why this is so important.
By now, we know that Members of Congress like to violate our Constitutional rights. Dianne Feinstein infamously called for citizen journalism to be outlawed. Democrats (and some Republicans) have made careers out of infringing on the 2nd Amendment. The Fisa bill that the establishment is advancing in Congress also clearly violates Americans' 4th Amendment rights...
Even for Congress, it is extremely rare to see them go after TWO Constitutional rights at once... But that is exactly what is happening with the EARN It Act. The full name is the Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies Act and it is a bipartisan attempt to strip away both your First and Fourth Amendment rights!
Don't let Congress violate your rights! Tell Congress right now that they MUST kill the Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies Act... or else!
In order to understand why this bill is so dangerous, it is important to explain how the internet works. Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act says that when someone posts something illegal online, they are the ones who should be held legally responsible for the content (and not the website they chose to put it on). For example, if someone posts a terroristic threat on Facebook, the terrorist is the user who posted it, not Facebook itself. This is simply common sense.
The EARN It Act would force websites to adopt a set of "best practices" that would be determined (at a later date) by the government. At the top of that wish list is a crack down on encryption.
When you log into websites or hardware produced by Apple, Google, or Facebook, you are protected by some level of encryption. These companies use passwords to protect your search history, emails, and other data. The government desperately wants to have access to this. The FBI, CIA, and NSA want the ability to get through this encryption to be able to spy on the American people.
Look at it this way. When you log into your iPhone, Android phone, or other device, you are forced to enter a password. If you get the password wrong too many times in a row, then your account will lock down. Keep getting the entering the wrong password and the account can become permanently locked. Believe it or not, that password encryption is too complicated for the government to get through.
The FBI and DOJ have been demanding that tech companies provide them a "backdoor" so that they can get through the encryption and spy on what Americans are doing online. The EARN It Act would give the Department of Justice the power to demand that back door by threatening to revoke a tech company's Section 230 protections.
If companies like Apple, Google, or Facebook refuse to give the government the power to break into your private accounts to spy on what you're doing online, then those tech companies would become criminally liable for what people post on their platforms.
To put it simply, the government is threatening to drive tech companies into bankruptcy unless they give Federal agents the right to spy on what you are doing on the internet.
The Founders ratified the 1st and 4th Amendments for a reason. Americans have the right to freely speak their mind and the government has no right to spy on what they're doing.
But the EARN It Act, if passed, would do away with both of those rights!
Don't let Congress violate your rights! Tell Congress right now that they MUST kill the Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies Act... or else!
This isn't just a Democrat bill, either. Sure, it is being co-sponsored by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). But the other lead co-sponsor is Lindsey Graham (R-SC). Congress is supposed to be focused on the Coronavirus response, but on Wednesday, the Graham and Blumenthal held a secret hearing to advance the EARN It Act forward.
Let me say that again: while the media was was devoting 24/7 coverage to the global pandemic, Republicans and Democrats used that as cover to advance a bill that slashes your 1st and 4th Amendment rights.
This bill is truly dangerous. It would give the government the power to force tech companies to allow government agents to spy on everything you do online. If this passes, it will be abused.
Both parties are using the Coronavirus to sneak this bill through. They are hoping that you won't notice what they are doing...
But now that you know, you MUST fight back!
Don't let Congress violate your rights! Tell Congress right now that they MUST kill the Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies Act... or else!
Stop them before it's too late!
Joe Otto
Conservative Daily
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