washington u.s. senate committee wednesday advance legislation make easy penalize operators websites facilitate online sex traffic concrete action congress year tighten regulation internet company approval come major u.s. internet company drop opposition measure amend decades-old law consider bedrock legal shield company unanimous voice vote senate commerce committee pass measure give state sex-trafficking victims mean sue social media network advertisers others fail keep exploitative material platforms bill rewrite section 230 communications decency act generally protect company liability activities users change bipartisan support still need pass full senate u.s. house representatives sign president donald trump become law momentous day fight hold online sex traffickers accountable help give traffic survivors justice deserve republican senator rob portman co-author bill know stop enable sex traffickers act say statement decades little oversight washington internet industry face increase scrutiny lawmakers party concern size platforms use russia 2016 election 40 senators co-sponsored bill trump daughter ivanka trump endorse internet company long object proposals congress rewrite section 230 argue measure allow innovation silicon valley thrive internet association industry group whose members include facebook fb.o amazon amzn.o alphabet google googl.o announce support senate bill last week series change edit clarify criminal charge would base violations federal human traffic law standard liability would require website knowingly assist facilitate traffic democratic senator ron wyden wednesday place hold bill prevent quickly get vote full senate say favor big tech company expense startups would stifle innovation letter tuesday dozen civil liberties organizations say bill would threaten free speech online unevenly harm small company few resources police platforms u.s. senate panel advance crackdown online sex traffic