i2Coalition Statement of Support For Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to HR 1865

“Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017”

Since its inception, the i2Coalition has worked diligently to prevent the use of Internet resources for human trafficking. Over the past year, we have worked with members of Congress and their staffs to craft legislation to provide additional resources to fight this terrible crime, without inflicting significant damage to the Internet.

We support the efforts of House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte and Representative Ann Wagner to leverage this legislation in amending the Communications Act of 1934 and the federal criminal code. This targeted method is the way to properly address this problem. The amended bill will provide new resources and tools to prosecute those who engage in human trafficking. It will also give law enforcement entities additional remedies that may not have been available to them in the past. Both outcomes are common sense solutions and worthy of support.

We appreciate that both Chairman Goodlatte and Rep. Wagner considered the importance of preserving Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act when drafting their effective approach to dealing with this important issue. Section 230 is both vital to our industry and our efforts to fight bad actors on the Internet. These Congressional leaders have found a path in HR 1865 that preserves the ability of Internet companies to innovate without fear of liability for actions they cannot control, while simultaneously targeting those who provide knowing support to human traffickers.

i2Coalition stands ready to help move the amendment in the nature of a substitute to HR 1865 forward.