Coalition letter opposing S. 2372, the Requiring Reporting of Online Terrorist Activity Act

On December 16, 2015, a coalition of civil liberties, human rights, and trade associations sent this letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee to express opposition to the Requiring Reporting of Online Terrorist Activity Act (S. 2372). The bill, introduced by Sen. Feinstein (D-CA), would require all providers of internet communications services to report to government authorities when they obtain “actual knowledge” of apparent “terrorist activity” on their services. The proposal, first introduced as a provision in the draft Intelligence Authorization bill during the summer, has several fundamental flaws and would create a significant chilling effect on constitutionally protected speech.