Texas anti-abortion tipster site booted by web host
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Washington (AFP) –
A webpage seeking tips from the public to enforce Texas's severe new abortion restrictions has been told to find a new company to host its site or go offline.
The website, prolifewhistleblower.com, was set up by anti-abortion group Texas Right to Life to collect anonymous tips under the law barring terminations after six weeks of pregnancy -- before many women know they are pregnant.
According to the law, anyone living in Texas can sue an abortion provider or anyone suspected of "aiding" an abortion to take place, with $10,000 rewards if they win in a civil case.
US web hosting company GoDaddy said in a statement Friday to AFP it informed the site Thursday night that it had "violated GoDaddy's terms of service and have 24 hours to move to a different provider."
According to the GoDaddy's terms, users cannot collect information about people without their consent.
The website says Texas Right to Life "will ensure that... lawbreakers are held accountable for their actions."
"Use the links below to report anyone who is... aiding or abetting a post-heartbeat abortion," the site says, referring to the law's banning of abortion once a fetal heartbeat can be detected.
"Report any person or entity that aids or abets (or that intends to aid or abet) an illegal abortion in Texas," it adds.
Texas Right to Life did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The US Supreme Court formally refused Wednesday to block the law, the biggest hit to abortion rights in the United States in 50 years.
Texas Right to Life has called it a blow to "the unjust ruling of Roe v. Wade," the landmark 1973 Supreme Court case that legally enshrined a woman's right to an abortion.
Roe v. Wade guaranteed the right to an abortion in the United States so long as the fetus is not viable outside the womb, which is usually not until the 22nd to 24th week of pregnancy.
President Joe Biden on Friday called the measure "vigilante" justice and said there may be existing legal avenues "to limit the independent actions of individuals in enforcing… a state law," but did not elaborate.
© 2021 AFP