The Texas abortion ban could force tech to snitch on users

[Nevilledog]

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issie lapowsky
@issielapowsky
NEW: The Texas abortion ban raises a ton of ugly questions for tech companies, not least of which is: Faced with a subpoena for data on a user who's accused of aiding and abetting an abortion by, say, fundraising or sharing information, will they comply?

The Texas abortion ban could force tech to snitch on users
Faced with a subpoena for user data under the new Texas abortion law, would Big Tech comply?
protocol.com
1:13 PM · Sep 2, 2021

https://www.protocol.com/policy/the-texas-abortion-ban-could-force-tech-to-snitch-on-users

With the Supreme Court deciding not to block Texas' effective ban on abortion this week, fears have been rightly focused on the people in Texas who will be almost entirely barred from receiving an abortion in the state and the providers who will face grave legal consequences for continuing to provide services there.

But the law's construction creates a far broader surface area of risk than even that, enabling anyone to be sued for — knowingly or unknowingly — aiding and abetting the "performance or inducement" of an abortion. As some have pointed out, that tie could be as indirect as an Uber driver giving a woman a ride to a clinic.

Uber is not alone among tech companies in having to figure out a response to this bill. Because now, the tech sector's many social media platforms, messaging platforms, fundraising platforms and more will also have to decide what they will do if, in the process of one of these lawsuits, they receive a legal request for user data.

How will Facebook respond to a subpoena requesting the IP address of an abortion rights group administrator who's been fundraising on the platform? What will Google do if they receive a demand for information on the name and email address of an advertiser targeting Texas women with information on how to obtain an abortion?

*snip*

[crickets]

1. Did they really think this through?

It's an undue burden for businesses like Uber who do not ask why people want to go places, they just take them there. Obviously, major tech companies don't have time for the level of BS coming their way due to this law either.

One last note: Elon Musk is a spineless turd.

[LeftInTX]

3. Texas never thinks things through...

That's the job of the federal courts and USSC..
The USSC failed here...

All sorts of crazy shit gets passed in Texas....

[Comfortably_Numb]

7. My last note to your last note:

Spot on. 100%.

[LeftInTX]

2. Good read...compelling....

This is so f_____d up!

I still can't believe the USSC allowed this...

So f'd up.....

[Walleye]

4. Does the word inducement have a legal definition

Are there any laws against inducement of anything else. Does it violate freedom of speech?

[VarryOn]

5. The big tech companies need castration...

They have too much power.

[Hoyt]

6. Doubt an Uber driver or the company faces much exposure. But the law

sure leaves a lot of questions, not to mention dangerous outcomes.