1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I am writing to express my firm opposition to the proposed SCREEN Act (Stopping CSAM and Reducing Exploitation and Extortion on the Net Act). While I fully support efforts to combat the horrific crime of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), this legislation risks creating a dangerous precedent for government overreach, sweeping censorship, and the erosion of digital privacy and free expression. The SCREEN Act proposes broad liability for platforms hosting user-generated content, compelling them to proactively monitor and remove content deemed illegal. This raises serious constitutional concerns. History has shown that when platforms are pressured to aggressively moderate content, they tend to over-censor to avoid legal risks—often silencing sex education, LGBTQ+ expression, harm reduction resources, artistic works, and other lawful speech in the process. This bill could also incentivize mass surveillance practices that undermine end-to-end encryption and users’ right to privacy. Forcing platforms to scan all messages, photos, and videos risks building infrastructure that authoritarian regimes could easily weaponize. Such dragnet surveillance tactics not only violate Fourth Amendment protections but also create a chilling effect on free speech. We do not need legislation that threatens the open internet and marginalizes already-vulnerable communities. Instead, Congress should invest in targeted, evidence-based efforts that equip law enforcement to pursue abusers without compromising the rights of ordinary users or harming legitimate digital spaces. I urge you to oppose the SCREEN Act and advocate for solutions that uphold both safety and civil liberties. The fight against abuse must not come at the cost of our fundamental freedoms.