The Justice Department proposed a major update Wednesday to the law that shields internet companies from liability for content on their sites — a move that is even broader than President Donald Trump’s attempts to hold platforms like Twitter and Facebook to account for decisions found to be politically biased.
DOJ’s proposal, which would need Congress’ blessing, would address a wide range of criticisms of the protections that digital companies have enjoyed under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, a 1996 law that has been critical to the online industry’s wealth and power.
Among the changes: Sites or platforms that facilitate third-party content that violates federal law would no longer be able to claim immunity from lawsuits. Users could sue companies in cases that involve child sexual abuse, terrorism and cyberstalking. It also would be easier for users to sue over platforms’ decisions to take down their content, a change intended to push companies to be more fair in removing content they find objectionable. Continue reading.