Page 24 - ARUBA TODAY

A24 TECHNOLOGY
Friday 13 april 2018
AP News Guide: Bill to fight online sex trafficking

By ANICK JESDANUN Schumer and Seth Meyers Already, the classified site
AP Technology Writer have expressed support for Craigslist has killed its per-
NEW YORK (AP) — A 1996 the new legislation. So has sonals section. "Any tool or
law that shields online ser- Trump's daughter, Ivanka. service can be misused. We
vices from being liable for While Facebook benefits can't take such risk without
what their users do would heavily from the 1996 pro- jeopardizing all our other
be weakened by a sex- tections, its chief operating services," Craigslist wrote.
trafficking bill awaiting officer, Sheryl Sandberg, Another possible outcome,
President Donald Trump's wrote that the bill "allows critics say, is that compa-
signature. platforms to fight sex traf- nies will stop moderating
The law is what allows Face- ficking while giving victims their services for abuses
book, Google and other the chance to seek justice altogether, not just sex traf-
leading companies to against companies that ficking. The new bill adds
provide communications don't." language to broaden
services. A company that Despite the divisive political sex trafficking to include
hosts blogs doesn't have to climate, both chambers of "knowingly assisting, sup-
worry about being sued for This April 6, 2018, file photo shows an FBI notice on the Back- Congress passed the bill porting, or facilitating" it.
defamation, for instance, page.com website. overwhelmingly — 388-25 The fear is that a website
when a user posts nasty Associated Press in the House and 97-2 in the might "know" about such
things about someone. Senate. conduct if comes across it
Likewise, Facebook doesn't sites can claim they aren't sexual services and hiding "Any bill that is about com- while moderating the ser-
have to worry if someone the publisher of question- their revenues. Federal law bating sex trafficking is vices for something else.
shares advice that turns out able content but are mere- enforcement authorities going to be difficult to op- Better to turn a blind eye al-
to be harmful. In both cas- ly transmitting content seized Backpage.com's pose," said Eric Goldman, a together, the thinking goes.
es, it's the user who is liable. posted by others. domain name on Friday. Santa Clara University law The biggest effect will be
But the same provision also One of the bill's chief spon- But people seeking civil professor who is critical of on smaller services without
has given classified-ad sites sors, Republican Sen. Rob damages from the sites the bill. resources to navigate the
such as Backpage protec- Portman of Ohio, told Sen- have been frustrated by CONCERNS OVER UNIN- intricacies of the new rules,
tion against accusations ate colleagues in January the 1996 exemption. That TENDED CONSEQUENCES said Emma Llanso, director
that they promote sexual that trafficking sites have law also limits the abil- Critics worry that without of the Free Expression Proj-
exploitation of minors and "the ability to say 'you can't ity of states from bringing the 1996 protections, sites ect at the Center for De-
prostitution. touch us. You can't go after their own criminal cases. might decide it's not worth mocracy and Technology,
Here's a look at the bill that us.'" The new legislation would offering their services at all one of several civil-rights
would lift those protections. The 1996 provision doesn't make it easier to bring civil or might be too aggres- groups opposing the legis-
It passed Congress with bar federal criminal pros- and state cases against sive in censoring posts to lation.
broad support, despite ecutions. A federal indict- these sites. avoid lawsuits. They say the The Justice Department
concerns over speech ment unsealed Monday THE SUPPORT impact would go beyond supports the bill, but has
rights. accuses the founders of Leading tech companies, sex-related content, even expressed concerns that it
THE IMPETUS Backpage and five oth- through the industry group though the bill is supposed might be unconstitutional
The legislation grew out of ers of facilitating prosti- Internet Association, and to preserve immunity for because changes would
frustration that classified-ad tution by running ads for celebrities such as Amy other posts. apply retroactively.q

Hino, VW partner on hybrids, autonomous drive, technology

By YURI KAGEYAMA Partnerships can save costs are looking for new kinds
AP Business Writer and boost competitive- of transportation solutions,
TOKYO (AP) — Hino Motors, ness. Automakers are also Shimo said.
Toyota Motor Corp.'s group trying to respond to a push Andreas Renschler, board
truck manufacturer, and to reduce global warming member at Volkswagen
Volkswagen Truck & Bus of and pollution by develop- AG and CEO of Volkswa-
Germany agreed Thursday ing cleaner powertrains. gen Truck & Bus, said the
to work together on tech- The deal brings together deal was strategic for his
nologies such as hybrids, two major players in trucks company because Hino
electric cars, autonomous and buses, a sector that was strong in Asia.
driving and connectivity. some analysts say can ben- "It is an excellent fit in terms
Under the deal, the com- efit the most from such new of regional footprints and
panies will maintain inde- technology. products, but also con-
pendence but executive Hino Motors President and cerning common ideas on
teams will work together to Chief Executive Yoshio Shi- how to shape the future of
map out cooperation on mo said the deal came to- transportation together,"
development of innovative gether because the com- Renschler said.q
technology. panies respected each
The arrival of the digital other and shared goals.
age and robotics in the "It will also be a strong tie-up
auto industry is pressuring at times of new challenges
Andreas Renschler, right, a board member at Volkswagen AG automakers around the in the field of transportation
and CEO of Volkswagen Truck & Bus, and Hino Motors President world to deliver vehicles due to the rapid growth of
and Chief Executive Yoshio Shimo, left, shake hands during a that connect to the inter- e-commerce," he said.
press conference in Tokyo, Thursday, April 12, 2018. net or avoid accidents au- People in Japan and oth-
Associated Press tomatically. er rapidly aging countries