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May 1, 2020 11:10 pm
Original Link: http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdot/~3/MDNxbB94QlU/new-bill-threatens-journalists-ability-to-protect-sources
New Bill Threatens Journalists' Ability To Protect Sources
A draft bill, first proposed by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in January, intends to combat online child exploitation but could introduce significant harm to journalists' ability to protect their sources. TechCrunch reports: Under the Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies (or EARN IT) Act, a government commission would define best practices for how technology companies should combat this type of material. On the surface, EARN IT proposes an impactful approach. A New York Times investigation in September found that "many tech companies failed to adequately police sexual abuse imagery on their platforms." The investigation highlighted features, offered by these companies, that provide "digital hiding places for perpetrators." In reality, the criticized features are exactly the same ones that protect our privacy online. They help us read The Washington Post in private and ensure we only see authentic content created by the journalists. They allow us to communicate with each other. They empower us to express ourselves. And they enable us to connect with journalists so the truth can make the page. This raises the question of whether the bill will primarily protect children or primarily undermine free speech online. It should be pointed out that EARN IT does not try to ban the use of these features. In fact, the bill does not specifically mention them at all. But if we look at how companies would apply the "best practices," it becomes clear that the government is intending to make these features difficult to provide, that the government is looking to discourage companies from offering -- and increasing the use of -- these features. By accepting EARN IT, we will give up our ability -- and our children's future abilities -- to enjoy online, social, connected and private lives. Four of the "best practices" relate to requiring companies to have the ability to "identify" child sexual abuse material. Unfortunately, it's not possible to identify this material without also having the ability to identify any and all other types of material -- like a journalist communicating with a source, an activist sharing a controversial opinion or a doctor trying to raise the alarm about the coronavirus. Nothing prevents the government from later expanding the bill to cover other illegal acts, such as violence or drugs. And what happens when foreign governments want to have a say in what is "legal" and what is not?Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Original Link: http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdot/~3/MDNxbB94QlU/new-bill-threatens-journalists-ability-to-protect-sources
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