Thread by @fightfortheftr

🚨RED ALERT🚨

We need to stop an AWFUL bill.

@SenSchumer + @SpeakerPelosi are poised to put special interests before people by ramming through the so-called Journalism Competition and Protection Act.

Urgent action is needed. Call now:
fightforthefuture.org/actions/tell-c…

Instead of holding big tech accountable by bringing #AICOA and #OAMA to a vote as @SenSchumer promised, we are hearing that he’s looking to put a handout to Murdoch, Alden Capital, and Gannett in the National Defense Authorization Act. Why you should be outraged, a thread.

The #JCPA is a pro-monopoly bill, allowing news publishers to form a cartel and demand payment for any links to their content. It’s must-carry, and must-pay, no matter how extreme the content. That's why 20+ civil society and library groups opposed.

publicknowledge.org/policy/group-l…

#JCPA breaks content moderation by requiring social media platforms to carry and PAY FOR hate, including articles that put a target on marginalized communities. @SpeakerPelosi’s husband was targeted by a “news” article that combined victim blaming and gay shaming.

Far-right politicians like Sen. Cruz want to force platforms to carry this kind of hate speech, and Cruz openly brags about his #JCPA amendment to prevent content moderation as a way of promoting extremist views.

cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press…

#JCPA also breaks the Internet by forcing platforms to pay for any user posting a link on their site. Linking has always been free, and it’s foundational to how we share information. This will discourage the Internet from being interconnected and people from sharing resources.

Who does #JCPA help? It’s the product of >10 year crusade of Rupert Murdoch against links. JCPA now has major support from hedge funds and conglomerates like Alden Capital and Gannett. Broadcasters are now included like News Corp and Sinclair.

techdirt.com/2009/11/11/a-l…

Who doesn't #JCPA help? Small publishers. @NNPA_BlackPress head @DrBenChavis: “[T]rue independent or small newspapers are explicitly excluded from the legislation” in favor of hedge funds and PE that buy up local news and lay off journalists and staff.

texasmetronews.com/45431/proposed…

#JCPA gives collective bargaining rights to many of the same publications that refuse their workers the right to unionize. There are no guarantees that money will go to workers. Many of these workers aren't happy about JCPA either.

https://twitter.com/mattdpearce/status/1598390442663419905

#JCPA hasn’t even made it out of committee in the House, but @SenSchumer wants to put it into a defense bill. This is after breaking promises that we’d have a vote on #AICOA and #OAMA— strong antitrust bills that would actually help reign in Big Tech.

It only takes 5 minutes to defend the internet and indie journalism, but you need to do it now.

We’ve made it easy to call @SenSchumer and @SpeakerPelosi at fightforthefuture.org/actions/tell-c…

Tell them no pay for hate, no link tax, and no #JCPA in the NDAA.