Attack on Broun's SAFE Act vote is based on 'misinformation'

Editor:

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I tried very hard not to take sides in the 10th Congressional District race in a public way, because I happened to like both men in this race. However, I am disturbed by the extent of misinformation that is repeated at every turn about U.S. Rep. Paul Broun not protecting our children from child predators because he voted against HR 3791, the Securing Adolescents From Exploitation (SAFE) Online Act of 2007.

At the 10th Congressional District GOP debate on June 22, Barry Fleming again attacked Broun for voting against HR 3791. Broun said contrary to the heart-tugging title of the bill, HR 3791 had nothing to do with protecting children from child predators. Rather, the bill went after the Internet/WIFI providers. During the next round of questioning, Fleming leveled the same charges again as if Broun did not dispute his initial claim.

I think everybody should read HR 3791. I have. The bill lays out reporting requirements of electronic communication service (ECS) and remote computing service (RCS) providers based on their customers' internet activities. If they fail to report what is deemed child pornography, they can be fined as much as $150,000 for the first incident and $300,000 each subsequent incident.

This bill has the potential to criminalize law-abiding business owners and their employees simply because they allow customers to have Internet access at their business. It does nothing to punish child predators.

YeSun Wiltse

Evans