A Federal Communications Commission (FCC) commissioner nominated by President Biden is now the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a group that vehemently opposes bipartisan legislation designed to protect victims of sex trafficking. EFF) on the board of directors.
According to the EFF, Gigi Song was the person Biden nominated this month to fill the FCC vacancy previously held by former FCC chairman Ajit Pai, and has been “closely linked” to the group for nearly two decades. He joined EFF’s board of directors in December 2018 after serving as a collaborator. Executive Director Cindy Cohn. That same year, the EFF launched an attack on his two bipartisan efforts to hold sex traffickers accountable and protect victims.
The EFF has particularly focused its anger on the Sex Trafficking Prevention Act (SESTA) and allowing states and victims to fight the Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA). The two bills came together in his one package, and after passing the House by a 388-25 margin and the Senate by a 97-2 margin in early 2018, former President Donald Trump passed him a month later. signed the bill.
The law specifically prohibits individuals who “own, manage, or operate interactive computer services” or host third-party content for the purpose of “promoting or facilitating the prostitution of others.” created new federal criminal and civil liability. It also created liability for platforms that assisted, supported, or facilitated sex trafficking. Generally, it was intended to block websites that provide prostitution and sex trafficking platforms.
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Gigison testifies at a Senate confirmation hearing reviewing her nomination to serve on the Federal Communications Commission on February 9, 2022.
(Pete Marovitch/Pool/Getty Images)
Supporters of the bill, including legislators on both sides and broader anti-trafficking, civil rights and law enforcement groups, claim it will help children and other vulnerable communities against online sex trafficking. but the EFF said it would lead to censorship and potentially harm online prostitutes.
“Today is a dark day for the internet,” the EFF tweeted after the bill passed in March 2018. “Congress passed internet censorship bill SESTA/FOSTA.”
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“Sex workers have spoken out … explaining how online platforms have literally saved their lives,” he added in a follow-up tweet. Didn’t you consult with the people?”
The EFF then filed a lawsuit in June 2018, asking a federal judge to drop the law as unconstitutional. The lawsuit said the law violated both the First and Fifth Amendments and was therefore unconstitutional.
Former Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) introduced FOSTA along with 70 fellow senators who co-sponsored the bill.
(Photo by AL DRAGO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
“FOSTA seriously questions the legality of online speeches that advocate the decriminalization of sex work or provide sex workers with health and safety information,” the group said in a legal objection. He said after filing the complaint.
“FOSTA shuts down online speech that protects and advocates for sex workers and takes well-established popular community forums offline for fear of criminal and serious civil liability for anything users may share. I will force you,” he added.
Since 2018, during Mr. Son’s tenure on the board, the EFF has continued to fight the SESTA-FOSTA Act through lawsuits, social media accounts and other public advocacy campaigns. The EFF also laments the law’s eventual shutdown of Craigslist’s “personal section,” which it accused of being a hotbed for traffickers, and his Pounced, a “beast” dating site. I’m here.
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In April, one month after a federal judge ruled against the EFF and in favor of the federal government, the group appealed to the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals.
Groups that supported the law include the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Polaris, Rights4Girls, Shared Hope International, FAIR Girls, and the National Fraternal Order of Police.
After the bill passed the House of Representatives in 2018, Joe Lacarte, director of government relations at Polaris, said, “FOSTA-SESTA is critical if we’re going to help stop the scourge of human trafficking.
Gigi Song testifies before the House Judiciary Committee on March 12, 2019.
(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
In addition, the EFF supports another bipartisan law, Eliminating Interactive Technology Abuse and Pervasive Neglect (EARN IT), introduced by Senators Lindsey Graham (RC) and Senators Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, Connecticut). expressed opposition to the law. in 2020. The bill proposed removing “a blanket immunity for violations of law related to online child sexual abuse material.”
The EFF recently announced that the EARN IT Act, advanced by the Senate Judiciary Committee in February 2022, would force Internet companies to stop using encryption and “instead scan all user messages, photos, and files.” It claimed that it would add “massive legal pressure”.
The EFF organized individuals to call lawmakers and ask them to vote against the bill.
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And in recent years, the group has partnered with New York-based Dominatrix Daniel Brandt, who “specializes in a variety of femdom activities, including foot worship, BDSM coaching, and bondage.” In 2020, the EFF awarded Brandt with an award for “research on equitable access to sex work and technology.”
“Sex workers were among the earliest adopters of the web,” Brandt said in his acceptance speech. “The sex worker was one of the first to use an e-commerce platform and he was one of the first to create a personal website. depended on.”
In June, Brandt attended an EFF event on “Queer Optimism,” and in November 2021, the EFF tweeted that Brandt was “grateful to work with.”
President Biden nominated Son for the FCC vacancy, making his second nomination.
(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
On the other hand, if the Senate approves Son’s appointment, the FCC will be a powerful independent agency with broad regulatory authority. technology and telecommunications industry — Democrats will have a 3-2 majority.
Her nomination this month was the second time Biden has nominated Son for the position. The president initially nominated her to replace Pai in October 2021, but various concerns over her past social media posts and her views on certain important issues prompted the Senate to deny her confirmation. could not hold a parliamentary vote on
Song is a vocal advocate of net neutrality and has highlighted the possibility of stripping right-leaning broadcaster Sinclair of its FCC license. The Chamber of Commerce, the nation’s largest business trade group, has echoed calls to the Senate to reject her nomination, warning of her “extreme views”.
The EFF referred to Fox News Digital earlier comments it made on the SESTA-FOSTA Act in response to the investigation. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
