Security News > 2020 > July > Kinda sorta weakened version of EARN IT Act creeps closer
Now that the EARN IT Act has crept closer to a full Senate hearing, we're that much closer to finding out whether the bill can really help stem the flood of online abuse material, whether it's a barely veiled attack on online privacy and end-to-end encryption, or all of the above.
Senator Richard Blumenthal claimed that the bill "Is not about encryption and it never will be." The other co-sponsor, Senator Lindsey Graham, said that his goal "Is not to outlaw encryption".
The amended bill also includes protections that purportedly keep the states from focusing on encryption.
An amendment from Senator Patrick Leahy prohibits holding companies liable because they use "End-to-end encryption, device encryption, or other encryption services."
The bill still encourages state lawmakers to look for loopholes to undermine end-to-end encryption, such as demanding that messages be scanned on a local device, before they get encrypted and sent along to their recipient.