The Developers Alliance joined dozens of other industry associations, civil rights groups, and groups representing LGBT+ individuals and journalists in a letter identifying how the Senate’s STOP CSAM Act (S. 1199) will create more problems than it will solve, harming developers and internet users.
Washington, D.C., September 29, 2023 – The Developers Alliance has released the following statement addressing its opposition to the STOP CSAM Act of 2023.
Key Facts
- End-to-end encryption is a key piece of the consumer trust equation. This bill would limit E2EE deployment, making it easier for governments, bad actors, platforms, and others to access sensitive user data.
- S. 1199 will force developers to act as cops on the beat. The bill would effectively require developers to serve as gatekeepers, monitoring what is and is not appropriate to host on their platforms. Developers are not qualified to take on this role.
- The STOP CSAM Act would limit free speech online as developers are forced to take down content to protect their businesses.
The following quote can be attributed to Geoffrey Lane, Head of U.S. Policy for the Developers Alliance:
“While well-intentioned, S. 1199 will only open up a can of worms for internet users and developers alike. The bill is certain to stifle free expression online as platforms remove third-party content in an effort to comply with it. What’s more, the bill actually makes internet use less safe. Because end-to-end encryption will be curtailed, user data could be accessed by bad actors, governments, platforms, and more. Finally, no developer signed up to serve as a platform gatekeeper, but this bill requires just that. We urge the Senate to reject the bill in its current form, and work to create legislation that fully protects internet users and the developers powering this important part of our economy.
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About The Developers Alliance
The Developers Alliance is the world’s leading advocate for software developers and the companies invested in their success. Alliance members include industry leaders in consumer, enterprise, industrial, and emerging software development, and a global network of more than 75,000 developers.
Press Contact
Heather Coull
Head of Marketing and Communications
617-688-0440
heather@developersalliance.org
