Hold Websites Accountable for Aiding and Abetting Human Trafficking

Hold Websites Accountable for Aiding and Abetting Human Trafficking

Started
May 31, 2016
Petition to
Congressional Committees on Commerce, Science and Transportation and on Energy and Commerce and 2 others
Victory
This petition made change with 6,479 supporters!

Why this petition matters

Started by ENC Stop Human Trafficking NOW

Did you know that when websites profit from the illegal activity of human trafficking, they are not held accountable? In the event that a company profits from the sale of victims of trafficking (including minors), they can use Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act as a defense. Section 230 provides websites with blanket immunity from “third party content”. This was designed to protect websites from being prosecuted when someone visiting their site posts inappropriate or even illegal content without the site’s knowledge or approval. It was NOT designed to grant immunity when a website actively PROFITS from third party content. 


Eastern North Carolina Stop Human Trafficking Now is one of several anti-trafficking organizations that are seeking a change to the CDA.  In order to stop human trafficking, we must take action to make access to this crime more difficult. Section 230 had good intentions, but it has been used to protect various companies that profit from advertising sex trafficking of women and children.  If websites profit from crimes such as human trafficking, they should be held accountable.

 We must urge lawmakers to amend the Communications Decency Act if we want to see a decrease in trafficking and exploitation in the US. Join us in asking Congress to amend  the Communications Decency Act so that

1. State and local law enforcement agencies have the authority to arrest and prosecute websites that advertise human trafficking victims and
2. The protections that websites currently enjoy from being held liable for third party content when they profit from that content is eliminated.

Victory

This petition made change with 6,479 supporters!

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