Over the last few months, the EARN IT Act, a bill that would have disastrous consequences for free speech and security online, has gained thousands of critics. Digital rights advocates and technologists have been joined by human rights groups, online platforms, sex worker advocates, policy organizations and think tanks, and Senators alike have joined together to stop the bill, which would drastically undermine encryption and violate the Constitution at the same time.
This is no exaggeration: buried in this bill is language that gives government officials like Attorney General William Barr the power to compel online service providers to break encryption or be exposed to potentially crushing legal liability. At a time of increasing necessity for secure and safe messages, encryption is even more important than ever. But the Senators promoting this bill are pushing for an Internet where the law requires every message sent to be read by government-approved scanning software. Companies that handle such messages wouldn’t be allowed to securely encrypt them, or they’d lose legal protections that allow them to operate.
We can’t let that happen.
Join EFF’s technologists, lawyers, activists, and lobbyists on Wednesday, June 3rd, for a Reddit AMA about all things EARN IT, including encryption, keeping online conversations private and secure, and Section 230.
And for now: please join the tens of thousands of individuals who have let their Senators know how that they must stop this plan to scan every message online.
STOP THE GRAHAM-BLUMENTHAL ATTACK ON ENCRYPTION
The Electronic Frontier Foundation is the leading nonprofit organization defending civil liberties in the digital world. Founded in 1990, EFF champions user privacy, free expression, and innovation through impact litigation, policy analysis, grassroots activism, and technology development. We work to ensure that rights and freedoms are enhanced and protected as our use of technology grows. Visit https://www.eff.org