Statement On The Senate Passage Of FOSTA

Washington, DC – Internet Association President & CEO Michael Beckerman released the following statement on the final Senate passage of the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017 (FOSTA):

“The internet industry shares the goals of lawmakers who want to put an end to trafficking online, and Internet Association will continue to be a key partner with policymakers on this important issue. Internet Association members are the good actors in the ecosystem, working every day to combat human trafficking by partnering with both law enforcement and NGOs like NCMEC, Thorn, and Polaris to protect victims and bring criminals to justice.

“To that end, CDA 230 is the key tool that allows internet companies to make good samaritan efforts to fight against trafficking and other forms of abuse without facing broader legal risk for doing so. Intermediary liability protections enable virtually all user-generated content online, allowing enormous parts of the internet ecosystem to function. IA will continue our work to preserve Section 230 and prevent attempts to weaken this crucial protection protection.”

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