• For thirty years, internet users have benefited from a key federal law that allows everyone to express themselves, find community, organize politically, and participate in society. • Section 230, which protects internet users’ speech by protecting the online intermediaries we rely on, is the legal support that sustains the internet as we know it. • Yet as Section 230 turns 30 this week, there are bipartisan proposals in Congress to either repeal or sunset the law. • These proposals seize upon legitimate concerns with the harmful and anti-competitive practices of the largest tech companies, but then misdirect that anger toward Section 230. • But rolling back or eliminating Section 230 will not stop invasive corporate surveillance that harms all internet users. • Killing Section 230 won’t end to the dominance of the current handful of large tech companies-it would cement their monopoly power.
Article Summaries:
- Section 230, the federal law that shields online intermediaries from liability for user‑generated content, turns 30 this week. Congress is debating bipartisan bills that would repeal or sunset the provision, citing concerns over harmful and anti‑competitive practices by major tech firms. The EFF argues that removing Section 230 would not curb corporate surveillance or competition but would instead curtail user speech and empower a handful of platforms to censor content. The proposals offer no replacement standard, and critics warn that stricter liability regimes could stifle free expression and drive smaller services out of business.
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