State, Territorial AGs Seek CDA Change to Clarify Role in Going After Online Sex Traffickers

A bipartisan coalition of 50 state and territorial attorneys general is urging lawmakers to amend Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to clarify that state officials have authority to investigate and prosecute online child sex traffickers. In a letter from the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), the state officials said federal enforcement alone can't stem such online activities and they want Congress to consider the proposed change. House and Senate lawmakers proposed bills that essentially would eliminate federal liability protections for websites that help violate federal sex trafficking laws and also empower state law enforcement officials to take action. tech and civil society groups said the proposed changes to Section 230 are too broad and would curb free speech (see 1708010011 and 1708110022). The NAAG letter was addressed House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and ranking member Mike Doyle, D-Pa., and Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and ranking member Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii. AGs from the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and all states, except for Connecticut and Massachusetts, signed.