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How EARN IT Could Give Abusers A Get Out Of Jail Free Card: By Making Evidence Inadmissible

3 years 1 month ago

In admitting that his EARN IT Act is really about attacking encryption, Senator Richard Blumenthal said he wouldn't agree to keep encryption out of the bill because he worried that it would give companies a "get-out-of-jail-free card." That's nonsense for multiple reasons, which we explained in that post, but the fact is Blumenthal's bill actually does contain a "get-out-of-jail-free card" that is incredibly damaging. It's one that child sexual abusers may be able to use to suppress any evidence collected against them and which would not just undermine the very point of EARN IT Act, but would make it that much harder to do the thing that needs to be done: stopping such abusers.

We touched on this a little bit in our earlier post about the mistakes senators made during the markup, but it's a little wonky, so it deserves a deeper exploration. Here's a good short description from Kir Nuthi in Slate:

As it stands, most companies that host online content voluntarily turn over huge amounts of potential evidence of child abuse to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Because private companies search for this evidence voluntarily, courts have held that the searches are not subject to the Fourth Amendment. But the EARN IT Actthreatens to disrupt this relationship by using the threat of endless litigation and criminal prosecution to strongly pressure private companies to proactively search for illegal material. Thanks to how the EARN IT Act amends Section 230, companies are more exposed to civil and criminal liability if they don’t follow the government’s “or else” threat and search for child sexual abuse material.

Currently, tech platforms have an obligation to report but not search for suspected instances of child sexual abuse material. That’s why searches today are constitutional—they’re conducted voluntarily. By encouraging and pressuring private sector searches, the EARN IT Act casts doubt on every search—they’d no longer be voluntary. Thus, the Fourth Amendment would apply, and evidence collected without a warrant—all child sexual abuse material in this case, since private parties can’t get a warrant—would be at risk of exclusion from trial.

The Supreme Court has long held that when the government “encourages” private parties to search for evidence, those private parties become “government agents” subject to the Fourth Amendment and its warrant requirement. That means any evidence these companies collect could be ruled inadmissible in criminal trials against child predators because the evidence was procured unconstitutionally.

Put simply, thanks to the EARN IT Act, under theExclusionary Rule, defense attorneys could argue that evidence was collected in violation of the Fourth Amendment and should be excluded from trial. As a result, the bill could lead to fewer convictions of child predators, not more.

In short: under the current setup, companies can search for child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and if they find it they must report it to NCMEC (and remove it). This is good and useful and helps prevent the further spread. But under the 4th Amendment, if the government is mandating a search, then it would require a warrant before the search can happen. So, if the government mandates the search -- and as various senators made clear in both their "myths and facts" document, and in the markup hearing, that's exactly what they intend this bill to do -- then anyone who is charged with evidence found via such a search would have an unfortunately strong response that the evidence was collected under state action, and, as such in order to survive a 4th Amendment review, would require a warrant.

In other words, it hands terrible criminals -- those involved in the abuse of children -- a way to suppress the evidence used against them on 4th Amendment grounds. Under such a regime that would make it more difficult to prosecute actual criminals. But, even worse, it would then create a perverse and dangerous precedent in which companies would be greatly encouraged not to use basic scanning tools to find, remove, and report CSAM content, because in doing so, it would no longer be usable in prosecutions.

So the failure by senators to understand how the 4th Amendment works, means that EARN IT (beyond all its other problems) creates a constitutional mess that is, effectively (and almost literally) a "get-out-of-jail-free card" for criminals.

Mike Masnick

Marc & Crystal's Love Story

3 years 1 month ago
Our Love Story: The Couple: Marc and Crystal from Jerseyville Date Met/Started Dating: May 25, 2018 Briefly Describe First Date: We went to Applebee’s and to buy my cat some expensive cat food when I accidentally left my debit card at home. Date Married: August 7, 2021 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: We love to run together. We ran our first marathon together as a married couple in October. We plan to run all the miles! Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: In order to keep a happy relationship, learn to keep keep your mouth shut… Just kidding … I think a happy relationship is a lot of listening and relating to your partner. Always looking at them in a new light because no one stays the same forever. Be willing to change and learn new tricks as they say! Never assume your partner feels secure and loved. Always remind them that they are loved. There is never a wrong time to send flowers! Chocolate fixes many problems, too!

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Cheerleader/Scholar Mackenzie Leonard Is One Of Auto Butler Female Athletes of Month For AHS

3 years 1 month ago
ALTON - Mackenzie Leonard is exceptional in both the classroom and as a competitive cheerleader for Alton High School. She is the winter captain for the Redbirds’ cheer team and is a scholar-athlete with a 4.1 GPA. Mackenzie is one of the Auto Butler Female Athletes of the Month for Alton High School. She has been a cheerleader for four years and competed in varsity team competitions for three years. She is a team captain this year. Mackenzie plans to attend the University of Missouri after graduation from AHS and major in education. The Alton senior’s tip to other cheerleaders is as follows: “Teamwork in cheerleading is so important. I wouldn’t have the same confidence in my skills if we weren’t constantly supporting and hyping up each other.” Mackenzie had some beautiful things to say about her parents; “I thank my mom and dad who have given me endless amounts of love and support during my cheer career. My parents have always motivated

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Taylor & Colin's Love Story

3 years 1 month ago
Our Love Story: The Couple: Taylor and Colin Ahlvers from Bethalto Date Met/Started Dating: June 8, 2017 Briefly Describe First Date: We went to mission taco. Date Married: October 8, 2018 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: We love going to eat Chinese, watching movies, and golfing. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Make God the center of your relationship. Also always bring your wife food home if you work late!

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Damone & Michelle's Love Story

3 years 1 month ago
Our Love Story: The Couple: Damone {Big Daddy) & Michelle (Bubbie) Wittman from Godfrey Date Met/Started Dating: August 8, 1987 Briefly Describe First Date: Does high school Band trip count? Date Married: May 30, 1992 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Live music scene. Damone has been playing drums since age 13. Michelle has been watching him out in the music scene since he was 15 and still today and will be celebrating 30 years together on May 30. They also enjoy gardening together and time with their dog Lucy on Saturday’s getting pup cones and caramel Lattes at Shivers. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Do what you enjoy and don’t let others stand in your way. Forgive each other, support each other, and plan to grow old together!

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O'Fallon, Mo. McAlister's Deli turns into a steakhouse for Valentine's Day

3 years 1 month ago
ST. LOUIS - McAlister's Deli is trying to help out couples who didn't plan ahead this Valentine's Day. They are turning into McAlister's "Steakhouse" just for Monday night. A press release said the deli chain will be "an exclusive dining experience, inclusive of a complimentary dinner service, live music at select locations, and elevated decor." [...]
Monica Ryan

Joey & Kaitlyn's Love Story

3 years 1 month ago
Our Love Story: The Couple: Joey and Kaitlyn from Wood River Date Met/Started Dating: May 29, 2016 Briefly Describe First Date: We went to a park to hang out when we were 15. Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: We love sitting on our couch watching TV, going out to dinner way too often, and walking at the park when it's nice. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Never let a fight get in the way of your relationship. It doesn't matter how young you are when you start dating. They really could be the one. Don't listen to the people that say you're too young to be in love. If we did, we would've missed out on 6 amazing years as we grew into adults together.

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Kelsey & Jake's Love Story

3 years 1 month ago
Our Love Story: The Couple: Kelsey and Jake from Bunker Hill Date Met/Started Dating: May 4, 2019 Briefly Describe First Date: Lake and Texas Roadhouse Date Married: February 11, 2022 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Hunting, spending time together Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Always make sure you communicate, communication is the key. Always tell the truth to each other.

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Brendan & Tiffany's Love Story

3 years 1 month ago
Our Love Story: The Couple: Brendan and Tiffany from Alton Date Met/Started Dating: June 18, 2015 Briefly Describe First Date: We went camping for the weekend. Date Married: September 25, 2016 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Playing Video games every night! Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Constant communication.

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Severe Winter Weather Intensifies Red Cross Blood Crisis

3 years 1 month ago
ST. LOUIS - After severe winter storms rolled across the country, the American Red Cross asks members of the community to schedule the earliest-available blood or platelet donation appointments in their area once it is safe to give. Dangerous snow and ice conditions have contributed to about 600 blood drive cancellations since the beginning of the year, resulting in nearly 17,500 uncollected blood and platelet donations. In the Missouri-Arkansas Region, 46 blood drives were canceled, and 11 donor centers were closed, resulting in 1,707 uncollected donations due to recent winter storms. Since the Red Cross issued its first-ever blood crisis in January, thousands of generous donors have come forward to give, but patient care remains at risk. The threat of winter weather continues − as well as ongoing complications posed by the omicron variant – and could further complicate efforts to rebuild the blood supply. More donors are needed to make appointments now for the week

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Jordan & Shania's Love Story

3 years 1 month ago
Our Love Story: The Couple: Jordan and Shania from White Hall Date Met/Started Dating: August 4, 2018 Briefly Describe First Date: Went out for dinner and listened to a local band. Date Married: October 16, 2021 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Working on house projects together. Just spending time with each other Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Communication is key! Don’t go to bed angry with each other.

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How St. Louis is feeling 'the day after'

3 years 1 month ago
ST. LOUIS---You didn't have a bad dream. It really happened. The Los Angeles Rams did in fact, win the Super Bowl last night. In Los Angeles (Ok, Inglewood). It was bad enough that the NFL, in a very well-produced segment with Halle Berry, trumpeted Hollywood's ties to the game of football. It was bad enough [...]
Gregg Palermo

Alton Mayor David Goins Mentors at L&C Black History Month Event

3 years 1 month ago
GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College welcomed Alton Mayor David Goins to Reid Memorial Library Thursday, Feb. 10, to speak on his career in law enforcement and his experience as Alton’s first African American mayor. “I was always taught to turn my stumbling blocks into stepping stones,” Goins said. I'm going to get through it, it’s not going to trip me up, and it's going to help me step a little higher.” Goins also used his 25 years of experience to offer his outlook to students considering a career in law enforcement. Primary to his message was that having good communication skills is key in being a successful police officer. The talk was part of L&C Student Activities’ lineup of Black History Month events. Upcoming public events include: ? 2/16 – Big George Brock Jr. and the NGK Band: 11:30. a.m.-1 p.m., The Commons. A variety of blues styles will be explained and performed. ? 2/17 – Underground Railroad Tour: 1-3

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Rex & Kathe Hooten 60th Anniversary

3 years 1 month ago
Rex and Kathe were married on February 24, 1962, and will celebrate 60 years this month. They believe the key to a successful marriage is to never stop having fun together! The photo shows them tubing at Lake of the Ozarks last fall when they were both 81 years young!

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