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Portman & Blumenthal: Bipartisan Bill Protects Internet Freedom & Holds Bad Actors Like Backpage Accountable

Statement

Date: Aug. 2, 2017
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Women Minors and Children Criminal Justice

U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) issued the following joint statement responding to the false claims in a letter from several trade associations opposing the bipartisan Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act:

"This bipartisan legislation preserves internet freedom while holding accountable anyone who actively facilitates online sex trafficking of women and children. It is narrowly-crafted legislation that targets websites engaged in one criminal activity: sex trafficking. And it allows victims of sex trafficking to impose civil remedies and seek justice. Our bill preserves the Communications Decency Act's "Good Samaritan' provision. This "Good Samaritan' provision protects good actors who pro-actively block and screen for offensive material, and thus protects them against frivolous litigation.

"We're pleased by the strong bipartisan backing, as well as the widespread support among anti-trafficking advocates and law enforcement groups. Watching this online exploitation of women and children and doing nothing is unacceptable. And we would hope that no one would defend Backpage's actions that facilitated sex trafficking online. The courts have said Congress must act to fix this problem, and Congress has a responsibility to ensure justice and stop these heinous crimes."

NOTE: The Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act has been endorsed by the anti-trafficking advocates and law enforcement organizations across the country, including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Polaris, Shared Hope, ECPAT USA, Rights4Girls, PROTECT, the National Children's Alliance, Trafficking in America Taskforce, Covenant House, Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Police Organizations, the Major Cities Chiefs of Police Association, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, and the National District Attorneys Association, among others.


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