Graham-Blumenthal Child Porn Bill Could Expose Websites to Civil Lawsuits
Draft legislation from Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., would require tech companies to earn liability protection against civil lawsuits involving child sex abuse material, said a committee aide. Graham and Blumenthal have been…
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negotiating legislation that would force companies to follow best business practices to earn certain liability protections under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (see 1910210067). As drafted, the bill could open up violators to civil lawsuits from victims of child sex abuse material hosted on platforms. Asked Thursday if a website that hosts child pornography should be subject to civil action, Graham told us, “That’s what 230 is all about. The thrust of the bill is that to get liability protections, you’ve got to earn them, you’ve got to do best business practices.” Blumenthal declined comment on bill specifics.