Senate passes controversial anti-sex trafficking bill
The Senate has voted 97–2 to advance the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, a controversial initiative meant to crack down on sex trafficking on the internet.
The bill would hold websites liable for hosting sex trafficking content by making a change to a key part of the Communications Decency Act. Some free-internet activists — as well as some tech company representatives — have argued that the bill places an unrealistic burden on small website operators, and will ultimately chill online speech. Sex workers have also opposed the legislation. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), a critic of the bill, offered an amendment that might have clarified the bill’s purposes, but it was voted down.
“Today is a dark...