The Senate Commerce Committee has unanimously approved the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, referring it to the full Senate for a vote after an amendment was hammered out that was supported by legislators and the computer industry.
The bipartisan bill, which was introduced last month, would update the Communications Decency Act to clarify that Section 230, which says internet services cannot be held liable for the actions of third parties, does not prevent enforcement against providers and users of federal and state laws against sex trafficking.
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“With today’s unanimous vote of the Senate Commerce Committee, Congress is one step closer to passing the most important anti-trafficking legislation in nearly twenty years, said Lisa Thompson, VP of research and education for the the National Center on Sexual Exploitation. “There is no change to federal law more urgent and necessary to fighting sex trafficking than a strong, but narrowly crafted, amendment to the Communications Decency Act.”
It was in everyone’s interest to come up with a workable bill that could get unanimous support since noone wanted to be on the record as opposing legislation whose aim was to stop the sex trafficking of children.