EFF: Hearing Thursday—EFF Asks Court to Block Enforcement of FOSTA While Lawsuit Proceeds

["Dave Farber" <farber () gmail com>]

> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: EFF Press <press () eff org>
> Subject: EFF: Hearing Thursday—EFF Asks Court to Block Enforcement of FOSTA While Lawsuit Proceeds
> Date: July 18, 2018 at 9:05:54 AM GMT+9
> To: dfarber () me com
> Reply-To: EFF Press <press () eff org>
>
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>  
>  <https://www.eff.org/>
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2018
> Contact:
> David Greene
> Civil Liberties Director
> davidg () eff org
> +1 415-436-9333 x143
>
> Aaron Mackey
> Staff Attorney
> amackey () eff org
> +1 415-436-9333 x167
>
> Hearing Thursday: EFF Asks Court to Block Enforcement of FOSTA While Lawsuit Proceeds
> Law Is Causing Online Censorship and Removal of Protected Speech
>
> WASHINGTON, D.C.—On Thursday, July 19, at 4 pm, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) will urge a federal judge to 
> put enforcement of FOSTA on hold during the pendency of its lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the federal 
> law. The hold is needed, in part, to allow plaintiff Woodhull Freedom Foundation, a sex worker advocacy group, to 
> organize and publicize its annual conference, held August 2-5.
>
> FOSTA <https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/03/how-congress-censored-internet>, or the Allow States and Victims to 
> Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act, was passed by Congress in March. But despite its name, FOSTA attacks online 
> speakers who speak favorably about sex work 
> <https://blog.ericgoldman.org/archives/2017/08/how-section-230-helps-sex-trafficking-victims-and-sesta-would-hurt-them-guest-blog-post.htm>
>  by imposing harsh penalties for any website that might be seen as “facilitating” prostitution or “contribute to sex 
> trafficking.” In Woodhull Freedom Foundation v. U.S., filed on behalf of two human rights organizations, a digital 
> library, an activist for sex workers, and a certified massage therapist, EFF maintains the law is unconstitutional 
> because it muzzles constitutionally protected speech that protects and advocates for sex workers and forces speakers 
> and platforms to censor themselves.
>
> Enforcement of the law should be suspended because the plaintiffs are likely to win the case and because it has 
> caused, and will continue to cause, irreparable harm to the plaintiffs, EFF co-counsel Bob Corn-Revere of Davis 
> Wright Tremaine will tell the court at a hearing this week on the plaintiffs' request for a preliminary injunction. 
> Because of the risk of criminal penalties, the plaintiffs have had their ads removed from Craigslist and censored 
> information on their websites. Plaintiff Woodhull Freedom Foundation has censored publication of information that 
> could assist sex workers negatively impacted by the law. FOSTA threatens Woodhull’s ability to engage in protected 
> online speech, including livestreaming and live tweeting its August meeting, unless FOSTA is put on hold.
>
> What: Hearing on plaintiffs' motion for preliminary injunction in Woodhull Freedom Foundation v. U.S.
>
> When: Thursday, July 19, 4 pm
>
> Where: U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
> Courtroom 18, 6th Floor
> 333 Constitution Avenue N.W.
> Washington D.C. 20001
>
> For this release:
> https://www.eff.org/press/releases/hearing-thursday-eff-asks-court-block-enforcement-fosta-while-lawsuit-proceeds 
> <https://www.eff.org/press/releases/hearing-thursday-eff-asks-court-block-enforcement-fosta-while-lawsuit-proceeds>
>
> For more on this case:
> https://www.eff.org/cases/woodhull-freedom-foundation-et-al-v-united-states 
> <https://www.eff.org/cases/woodhull-freedom-foundation-et-al-v-united-states>
>
> For the motion for preliminary injunction:
> https://www.eff.org/document/woodhull-freedom-foundation-et-al-v-united-states-motion-preliminary-injunction-and 
> <https://www.eff.org/document/woodhull-freedom-foundation-et-al-v-united-states-motion-preliminary-injunction-and>
>
>  
>
> About EFF
>
> The Electronic Frontier Foundation is the leading organization protecting civil liberties in the digital world. 
> Founded in 1990, we defend free speech online, fight illegal surveillance, promote the rights of digital innovators, 
> and work to ensure that the rights and freedoms we enjoy are enhanced, rather than eroded, as our use of technology 
> grows. EFF is a member-supported organization. Find out more at https://eff.org <https://www.eff.org/>.
>
>
>
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