Internet Companies Begin to Support Bill Against Online Sex Trafficking

A proposed bill aimed at curbing online sex trafficking is finally getting support from companies like Google and Facebook, as the Internet Association announced that it will support the Stop Enabling Sex Trafficking Act (SESTA) on Friday, Nov. 3.

The trade group, which include most of the biggest names in social media and the tech industry as a whole, has finally bent to pressure to support the bill, after a period of resisting the changes that it proposed to an established law that acquits companies like Twitter, Facebook and Google of responsibility for content posted on their platforms.

Internet Association President and CEO Michael Beckerman, who represents the group, has confirmed that they are now in support of the proposed bill. "Internet Association is committed to combating sexual exploitation and sex trafficking online and supports SESTA," he claimed in an announcement.

"Important changes made to SESTA will grant victims the ability to secure the justice they deserve, allow internet platforms to continue their work combating human trafficking, and protect good actors in the ecosystem," he added, before praising the bill's cosponsors Sen. Portman and Sen. Blumenthal for their work on the measure.

Before this change of heart for the trade group, its members, Google, in particular, has obstructed the bill's progress through a variety of means, according to Wired. In the current version of the Communications Decency Act, Section 230 has long stood as a legal shield protecting Silicon Valley from the content posted by users.

For their part, the Internet Association does support the prosecution of companies like Backpage.com that have been involved with endangering underage victims. The group has opposed the bill and the changes it will make to Section 230 until this point, however.

"Removing the unwarranted shield from legal responsibility will save countless children from horrific tragedy, both physical and emotional," Sen. Blumenthal later said in a statement.