Shaking Up The Internet: An Update

We wrote recently about proposed changes to laws governing content on the internet. Washington has now proposed even more changes that could affect policing of the internet and social media.

In brief, Section 230(c) of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 allows platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to moderate user posts without becoming liable for user content, with a few exceptions. Such platforms may enforce their own community standards and are given very wide latitude to determine what is – and what is not – acceptable content. But the platforms' decisions to allow or remove controversial posts are not transparent. Nor are the platforms held accountable if they don't follow their own policies.