The Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies Act of 2020 (EARN IT), a bill introduced by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), aimed at protecting children from online predators, is facing scrutiny from those who believe it will undermine privacy, promote censorship and jeopardize the right to free speech.
Introduced in March, the original version of the bill proposed that if online platforms wanted to retain their Section 230 immunity (part of the Federal Communications Act that protects internet companies from liability for user content posted on their platforms), they would need to “earn it” by following the requirements of an unelected government commission.