washington u.s. senate may vote soon tuesday bipartisan proposal would make easy penalize operators websites facilitate online sex traffic accord four source familiar matter allow vote legislation would deal major blow u.s. technology industry vigorously oppose measure say would thwart digital innovation lead endless litigation propose law prompt part frustrations fail attempt shut website backpage.com many law enforcement officials accuse facilitate exploitation especially women children perform sexual service company long deny allegations senate expect pass annual defense policy spend bill week process include consideration amendments yet publicly disclose among amendments consider stop enable sex traffickers act would change section decades-old law shield company facebook inc amazon inc alphabet inc google liability content post users accord senate aide three technology industry source source request anonymity discuss ongoing private conversations caution monday situation fluid republican senate leadership might decide allow vote amendment also say likely pass vote possibility alarm internet company underlie defense bill consider must-pass legislation would need reconcile house representatives sign president donald trump become law republican senator rob portman introduce online traffic bill august gain support fourth senate kevin smith spokesman portman decline comment say senator focus build support measure legislation would allow state attorneys general victims sex traffic pursue legal action social media network advertisers others fail keep exploitative material platforms technology company say change section 230 communications decency act would impose impossible demand online publishers quash innovation lawmakers attorneys argue statute broadly interpret give company much leeway avoid responsibility harmful content us senate may vote week add penalties sex traffic sit -sources