To reduce its control … the US Department of Justice supports Trump’s legislation against technology companies
Protection measures have helped technology platforms grow since the early days of the Internet (Reuters)
On Wednesday, the US Department of Justice proposed legislation to reform the tech industry’s part of legal liability known in law as Section 230, which protects internet platforms from liability for their users’ posts and allows them to modify and remove harmful content without impunity.
The bill focuses on two areas of reform. First, narrowing the criteria that online platforms must meet to obtain the liability protections conferred by Section 230. Second, abolishing legal immunity in some instances, such as crimes involving sexual assault against children.
The protections imposed by law have helped the growth of technology platforms since the early days of the Internet. Still, they have come under scrutiny in recent years as lawmakers and regulators have generally questioned the use of these measures to increase the power of technology companies.
Several lawmakers have proposed reforms to Section 230 in recent months. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in May targeting the law, citing the suppression of alleged “censorship” by technology platforms. Trump introduced the order shortly after Twitter first placed “fact-checking” stickers on his tweets.![]()
Trump issued the order shortly after Twitter first placed “fact-checking” stickers on his tweets (Reuters)
Technology | the world
To reduce its control … the US Department of Justice supports Trump legislation against technology companies
Protection measures have helped technology platforms grow since the early days of the Internet (Reuters)
Protection measures have helped technology platforms grow since the early days of the Internet (Reuters)
24/9/2020
On Wednesday, the US Department of Justice proposed legislation to reform the tech industry’s part of legal liability known in law as Section 230, which protects internet platforms from liability for their users’ posts and allows them to modify and remove harmful content without impunity.
The bill focuses on two areas of reform. First, narrowing the criteria that online platforms must meet to obtain the liability protections conferred by Section 230. Second, abolishing legal immunity in some instances, such as crimes involving sexual assault against children.
The protections imposed by law have helped the growth of technology platforms since the early days of the Internet. Still, they have come under scrutiny in recent years as lawmakers and regulators have generally questioned the use of these measures to increase the power of technology companies.
Several lawmakers have proposed reforms to Section 230 in recent months. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in May targeting the law, citing the suppression of alleged “censorship” by technology platforms. Trump introduced the order shortly after Twitter first placed “fact-checking” stickers on his tweets.
Trump issued the order shortly after Twitter first placed “fact-checking” stickers on his tweets (Reuters)
CNBC says representatives of Twitter, Google, and Facebook were not immediately available to comment on the Justice Department’s proposal, which would need to be approved by Congress.
Nine Republicans participated in a meeting with Trump and Attorney General William Barr at the White House on Wednesday over the proposed reforms.
Prosecutors from Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, as well as from Missouri, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia spoke with reporters at a roundtable after the meeting alongside Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, a former state attorney general who had introduced his law to reform Section 230.
After the White House meeting, Jeff Landry of Louisiana Inc., Yilan Moi, told CNBC correspondent in an interview that he plans to join the Justice Department if federal authorities decide to file a case against Google for a monopoly.
“We will join the US Department of Justice,” Landry said. “If they take this action, Louisiana will be there. I certainly encourage and hope that all the countries that participated in this investigation also join.”
But Landry said state attorneys could continue to pursue their claims even if they differ from the Justice Department. The New York Times reported that the federal case would focus on Google’s search business, while the Texas-led state investigation has mainly focused on Google’s digital advertising business.
