WASHINGTON — Hacking/Hustling (H2), a group of sex worker rights and digital rights activists, is urging all sex workers, advocates and allies to email senators tomorrow to oppose the EARN IT Act, described by critics as "a new FOSTA."
“Do you have ten minutes to spare on June 25?” asked the sex worker collective in a statement posted on the H2 website.
“We need everyone to start emailing their Senators on Thursday, June 25,” the statement continued. “Last time we got into the conversation on SESTA/FOSTA, hundreds of congressmembers had already signed on, having never heard from sex workers and allies on how this would impact them. Let's not let this happen again. While they’re focused on trying to pass aid packages, the offices trying to push this are wasting no time.”
According to H2, the Lindsey Graham-sponsored EARN IT Act would create "a group of law enforcement, tech reps and service providers who work on the issue of child abuse to come up with regulations for the internet. Some have already been vocal about wanting to kill user encryption (do you use Signal?). It’s many of the same actors and approaches that brought you SESTA, with an even broader mandate."
The HH website has a page devoted to explaining the dangers of EARN IT, with a webinar recording and a section-by-section explainer of the bill.
Since EARN IT (S. 3398) comes up for a vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee next week, HH urges tomorrow’s action to influence "the last stop before it goes to the full Senate for a yes/no vote."
"That means that this Thursday we’ll have to call the Senators on the committee and tell them to vote 'no' on the EARN IT Act," the statement concluded.
The H2 statement offers a script and phone numbers for the Senators who will be voting.
For more information, visit the HH website and follow them on Twitter.