Stop the SCREEN Act
U.S. Lawmakers
The SCREEN Act would instate nationwide age verification requirements for websites that lawmakers deem “harmful to minors.” Its broad scope could instate online ID checks on everything from actual adult websites to popular social media platforms, fanfiction sites, and even entire telecom networks. Far from promoting safety, it would force websites to contract with shady third-party verification companies to collect and store incredibly sensitive identifying info, like our drivers’ licenses and passports, in insecure databases. With backing from far-right politicians and conservative anti-porn groups, it’s clear what this bill is really intended to do: censor our access to the Internet while collecting our data in droves.
Sponsored by
To:
U.S. Lawmakers
From:
[Your Name]
I’m writing to urge you to oppose the SCREEN Act, a bill that would mandate online ID checks on websites nationwide and put our sensitive data at risk. While it claims to keep kids safe, age verification is dangerous for everyone. Forcing websites to work with third-party age verification services would demand I submit my IP address and personal information to huge, insecure databases with only vague assurances as to security. Plus, the bill’s broad definitions of harmful content and service providers mean that Trump’s FTC could weaponize it to age-gate anything and everything it deems unsavory. That’s not child safety—that’s censorship. Please protect my privacy and access to the Internet and oppose this dangerous bill.