Section 230 And Facebook

A right wing offensive is underway to discredit social media companies just days before the election.

Section 230 and facebook. A key legal shield for facebook google is about to change. Attacks on section 230 have escalated in recent days as facebook and twitter limited the distribution of a series of articles by the conservative leaning new york post that claimed it obtained. It s been called one of the most valuable tools for protecting freedom of expression and innovation. Twitter facebook and google ceos testify before congress in rare appearance days before election mark zuckerberg jack dorsey and sundar pichai defend law as critical.

Section 230 is one of the pieces of legislation that allowed today s internet and facebook twitter and youtube to develop. All tech considered the 1996 law is praised by the tech industry as the core pillar of internet freedom. This allows them to operate and. Long before social networking section 230 was meant to cover sites like news outlets with comment sections online forums and other websites where people could contribute their thoughts.

Facebook head of security policy nathaniel gleicher said the shield that section 230 provides the social media site is absolutely essential for combatting security threats. Section 230 shields websites for being liable for what is posted on them by third parties. Most fundamentally section 230 provides immunity to social media companies like facebook and twitter twtr 0 3 against being sued over the content on their site.