Florida NOW

National Organization for Women

Donate Join, Re-Join or Renew

Current Action Alerts

  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Gallery
    • Chapters
    • FLNOW Ed Fund
    • FL Collegiate NOW
    • Seek Then Speak
  • Events
    • Book Club
    • Get Involved
  • Issues
    • Constitutional Equality
    • Economic Justice
    • Freedom from Violence
    • LGBTQ Rights
    • Racial Justice
    • Reproductive Rights
    • Book Bans
    • More Issues
  • News
    • News
    • Newsletters
  • Resources
  • PAC
    • Florida NOW PAC
      • #4320 (no title)
      • #4325 (no title)
      • #4314 (no title)
    • Endorsement Questionnaire
  • Members
  • Join or Renew
  • REPORT SEXUAL ASSAULT

August 10, 2017 by NOW National

Google Puts Corporate Interests Over Women’s Safety

Statement of NOW President Toni Van Pelt

Google has once again turned heads this week, because of its sexist and misogynistic treatment of employees. But let’s not forget that Google’s mistreatment of women extends far beyond its Mountain View, Calif. headquarters. Their lobbyists are working hard to protect laws that encourage online sex trafficking–and the exploitation of girls and women.

Backpage.com is a key player in online sex trafficking–providing a hub where traffickers can advertise children for sex. That’s despicable. Yet third-party facilitators of sex trafficking like Backpage.com remain protected under the law, specifically Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (CDA).

Backpage.com has been dodging legal challenges to their illicit conduct, and Google has swooped to their defense. Areport by Consumer Watchdog indicates that Google has contributed millions of dollars to the defense of Backpage. All of this legal work hinges on the protection of Section 230 of the CDA–which supports Google’s corporate interests. Now Google is sending their lobbyists to Capitol Hill, to persuade lawmakers to stay away from this precious piece of the law.

Shame on Google: it’s clear they’ve chosen again and again to put corporate priorities before the safety of girls and women. Their endorsement of Section 230 of the CDA says that they are more than happy to condone child sex trafficking if it furthers their goals. If they’re not resisting injustice, they’re committing it.

Well, NOW’s grassroots activists are ready to resist. Congress needs to amend this dangerous law that allows online sexual exploitation to go unchecked. So we’ll be marching into our representatives’ offices with a simple demand: don’t listen to Google. Change Section 230 of the CDA to make sure that it protects women–not corporations.

Contact

M.E. Ficarra, press@now.org, 951-547-1241

About NOW National

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Take Action

Become a Florida NOW Member

Update Your Contact Info or Chapter

Learn About Our Seek Then Speak Campaign

2025 Legislative Recap

Get Florida NOW Updates

Sign up for our mailing list, choose only the news you want to receive.

MERCH

Order a Florida NOW T-Shirt online! Shipping in 5-10 days. Go to: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheKatylist

Florida NOW

Florida NOW’s purpose is to take action through intersectional grassroots activism to promote feminist ideals, lead societal change, eliminate discrimination, and achieve and protect the equal rights of all women and girls.

Learn more about us.

Contact

E-Mail
web@flnow.org

Social

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter