THE GADGETS, Tech News | Latest Technology | Mobiles |  THE GADGETS, Tech News | Latest Technology | Mobiles |

THE GADGETS, Tech News | Latest Technology | Mobiles |

THE GADGETS, Tech News | Latest Technology | Mobiles |

  • Home
  • Gadgets
  • Gaming
  • Laptops/Tablets
  • Mobile
  • Camera
  • More
    • Europe
    • Wearables
    • Home Entertainment
    • Social Media
    • Apple
    • Android
THE GADGETS, Tech News | Latest Technology | Mobiles | THE GADGETS, Tech News | Latest Technology | Mobiles |
  • Gadgets
  • Gaming
  • Laptops/Tablets
  • Mobile
  • Camera
  • Europe
  • Wearables
  • Home Entertainment
  • Social Media
  • Apple
  • Android
Home > Home Entertainment > Facebook, Google, Others' Encryption Said to Be Threatened by Planned New US Bill
Home Entertainment

Facebook, Google, Others' Encryption Said to Be Threatened by Planned New US Bill

Published: Oct 06, 2022

US legislation will be introduced in the coming weeks that could hurt technology companies\' ability to offer end-to-end encryption, two sources with knowledge of the matter said, and it aims to curb the distribution of child sexual abuse material on such platforms.

The bill, proposed by the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, aims to fight such material on platforms like Facebook and Alphabet\'s Google by making them liable for state prosecution and civil lawsuits. It does so by threatening a key immunity the companies have under federal law called Section 230.

This law shields certain online platforms from being treated as the publisher or speaker of information they publish, and largely protects them from liability involving content posted by users.

The bill, titled \"The Eliminating Abuse and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies Act of 2019,\" or the \"EARN IT Act,\" threatens this key immunity unless companies comply with a set of \"best practices,\" which will be determined by a 15-member commission led by the Attorney General.

The move is the latest example of how regulators and lawmakers in Washington are reconsidering the need for incentives that once helped online companies grow, but are increasingly viewed as impediments to curbing online crime, hate speech and extremism.

The sources said the U.S. tech industry fears these \"best practices\" will be used to condemn end-to-end encryption - a technology for privacy and security that scrambles messages so that they can be deciphered only by the sender and intended recipient. Federal law enforcement agencies have complained that such encryption hinders their investigations.

Online platforms are exempted from letting law enforcement access their encrypted networks. The proposed legislation provides a workaround to bypass that, the sources said.

\"This a deeply dangerous and flawed piece of legislation that will put every American\'s security at risk... it is deeply irresponsible to try to undermine security for online communications,\" said Jesse Blumenthal, who leads technology and innovation at Stand Together, also known as the Koch network -funded by billionaire Charles Koch. The group sides with tech companies that have come under fire from lawmakers and regulators in Washington.

\"There is no such thing as a back door just for good guys that does not create a front door for bad guys,\" Blumenthal said.

On Wednesday, U.S. Attorney General William Barr questioned whether Facebook, Google and other major online platforms still need the immunity from legal liability that has prevented them from being sued over material their users post.

During a Senate Judiciary hearing on encryption in December, a bipartisan group of senators warned tech companies that they must design their products\' encryption to comply with court orders. Senator Graham issued a warning to Facebook and Apple: \"This time next year, if we haven\'t found a way that you can live with, we will impose our will on you.\"

A spokeswoman for Senator Graham said \"on timing, other details, we don\'t have anything more to add right now.\" She pointed Reuters to recent comments by the senator saying the legislation is \"not ready\" but \"getting close.\"

A spokeswoman for Senator Blumenthal said he was encouraged by the progress made by the bill.

A discussion draft of the EARN IT Act has been doing the rounds and has been criticized by technology companies.

Facebook and Google did not respond to requests for comment.

© Thomson Reuters 2020

You Might Also Like

SNACTIV Snacking Tool

Automatic Candle Snuffer

TOKK CAM C2+ Compact Wi-Fi Camera

HUDWAY Glass Heads-Up Navigation Display

Previous Article Compaq to Return to India This Year, but as a Smart TV Brand Compaq to Return to India This Year, but as a Smart TV Brand
Next Article iQoo 3 Shown Off in New Video Confirming 48-Megapixel Quad Rear Camera Setup, Also Teased in Hands-On Video iQoo 3 Shown Off in New Video Confirming 48-Megapixel Quad Rear Camera Setup, Also Teased in Hands-On Video

Latest News

SNACTIV Snacking Tool
Gadgets Feb 15, 2023
Automatic Candle Snuffer
Gadgets Feb 15, 2023
TOKK CAM C2+ Compact Wi-Fi Camera
Gadgets Feb 15, 2023
HUDWAY Glass Heads-Up Navigation Display
Gadgets Feb 15, 2023
Deal: Jamstik Guitar Trainer
Gadgets Feb 15, 2023
Best Keyboards For Typing: Top 8 High Rated Keyboards 2023
Laptops/Tablets Feb 15, 2023
Best Laptops For Car Tuning: 2023
Laptops/Tablets Feb 15, 2023
10 Best Laptops Value for Money 2023
Laptops/Tablets Feb 15, 2023
10 Best Laptops For Ethical Hacking In 2023
Laptops/Tablets Feb 15, 2023
6 Best Laptops for World of Warcraft in 2023
Laptops/Tablets Feb 15, 2023
about us

Thegadgets360 is the original home for technology news and reviews. Thegadgets360 is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets,gaming,technology,entertainment and consumer electronics.

  • Gadgets
  • Gaming
  • Laptops/Tablets
  • Mobile
  • Camera
  • Europe
  • Wearables
  • Home Entertainment
  • Social Media
  • Apple
  • Android
APPLE WATCH SE 2: WITH NEW FEATURES
APPLE WATCH SE 2: WITH NEW FEATURES
Gadgets Oct 06, 2022
Apple Active Devices Grow to 1.5 Billion, iOS 13 Adoption Rises to 70 Percent, iPadOS to 57 Percent
Apple Active Devices Grow to 1.5 Billion, iOS 13 Adoption Rises to 70 Percent, iPadOS to 57 Percent
Europe Oct 06, 2022

© Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved.