Thread by @EmpressAlvara

Well, the mask is off, if it was ever really on. As I predicted, the TikTok ban has evolved into blatant censorship of the internet. Let's talk about it. Big rant incoming, but if you enjoy continuing to have even some semblance of personal freedom, you're gonna wanna listen
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Bill S. 686 also known as the Restrict Bill (aka the TikTok Ban), can be read in full here govtrack.us/congress/bills…
However I intend to summarize the most significant parts if you'll bear with me a moment.

First off, this bill will ban the use of hardware such as modems, routers, home cameras, etc, and virtual tech such as VPNs, if they are manufactured by or used to contact and deal with "foreign adversaries."

Note that, while a summative list of "foreign adversaries" is given in the bill, it is subject to change at any time without warning.

This bill will make the use of VPNs to bypass bans on apps/content such as TikTok a criminal act, punishable by minimum imprisonment of 20 years and a minimum fine of $250,000 or $1,000,000 depending on if you knowingly did so for the explicit purpose of accessing banned content

The bill gives the federal government the power to access and monitor any activity from suspected devices, virtual or otherwise, without telling anyone. This essentially gives them the power to spy on you without your knowledge or consent, monitoring you at all times.

This includes routers, modems, online videogames, streaming apps, social media, ring cameras and other home camera systems, smart thermostats, literally anything that makes use of the internet

The method by which this will be done is by the President appointing a Secretary of Communication, who forms their own independent group without any votes or democratic selection, and that group can then make decisions behind closed doors without disclosing anything whatsoever

Decisions banning whatever they deem to be inappropriate or threatening content, or otherwise deemed a threat to national security. At any time. Without disclosure or voter input. And remember, accessing said content would be a crime under this bill.

If this passes, they can go through your text messages, your emails, your Snapchat, your Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and private messages on any other social media, anything that uses the internet, and they can censor it and prosecute anyone who disobeys these restrictions

In summation, this bill effectively bans anything at all the government deems inappropriate for whatever reason, very fast, without warning, and without voter input, and further allows the government to spy on you directly through anything that makes use of the internet, 24/7.

It is, without exaggeration, one of the most horrid and genuine threats to freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and the overall rights and freedoms of Americans everywhere. Especially the right to privacy.

Everyone should be thoroughly invested in shooting this bill down, as it could result in the breaking up of mass communication methods, the targeted suppression of minority groups, the immediate quashing of dissent in any form wherever it may be, and a true totalitarian state.

It is the biggest step towards the worst case scenario. Please, if you have the time, contact your representatives, make it clear you do NOT support this bill, and that if they vote for it you will support their opponents in the next primary. Call them, email them, whatever works

And spread this information around, in whatever way you see fit. It is imperative that that bill does not get passed, and I'm sure we can all see why. Yet I haven't seen anyone talking about it as of yet, despite how extremely concerning it is.

There's simply too much goin on all at once to be able to cover everything, so we have to work together to share information, and exercise our rights to assembly and free speech while those rights still exist. If we do, hopefully those rights will continue to exist.