Major tech-industry group drops opposition to sex trafficking bill

The Internet Association -- which counts Google, Facebook, Twitter and others among its members -- reversed course and said it will support the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA), a bill designed to make it easier to sue websites that enable sex trafficking online. The bill has been a source of tension between the technology industry and Washington for months. A compromise  that addresses fears that the bill would make Internet companies more vulnerable to litigation  comes just days after tech giants faced a hostile Congress in hearings examining their responsibility for Russian-bought propaganda advertisements on their sites. The bill would amend a key section of the Communications Decency Act, which insulates technology platforms such as Facebook and Twitter from being held liable for what their users post or say on their sites. But the bill's co-authors, Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), have said that the current law makes it too easy for websites to facilitate sex trafficking of children and adults through ads and other posts without fear of repercussion.