March 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010
August 2010
September 2010 October 2010
November 2010
December 2010
January 2011
February 2011 March 2011 April 2011 May 2011 June 2011 July 2011 August 2011 September 2011 October 2011 November 2011 December 2011 January 2012 February 2012 March 2012 April 2012 May 2012 June 2012 July 2012 August 2012 September 2012 October 2012 November 2012 December 2012 January 2013 February 2013 March 2013 April 2013 May 2013 June 2013 July 2013 August 2013 September 2013 October 2013 November 2013 December 2013 January 2014 February 2014 March 2014 April 2014 May 2014 June 2014 July 2014 August 2014 September 2014 October 2014 November 2014 December 2014 January 2015 February 2015 March 2015 April 2015 May 2015 June 2015 July 2015 August 2015 September 2015 October 2015 November 2015 December 2015 January 2016 February 2016 March 2016 April 2016 May 2016 June 2016 July 2016 August 2016 September 2016 October 2016 November 2016 December 2016 January 2017 February 2017 March 2017 April 2017 May 2017 June 2017 July 2017 August 2017 September 2017 October 2017 November 2017 December 2017 January 2018 February 2018 March 2018 April 2018 May 2018 June 2018 July 2018 August 2018 September 2018 October 2018 November 2018 December 2018 January 2019 February 2019 March 2019 April 2019 May 2019 June 2019 July 2019 August 2019 September 2019 October 2019 November 2019 December 2019 January 2020 February 2020 March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020 July 2020 August 2020 September 2020 October 2020 November 2020 December 2020 January 2021 February 2021 March 2021 April 2021 May 2021 June 2021 July 2021 August 2021 September 2021 October 2021 November 2021 December 2021 January 2022 February 2022 March 2022 April 2022 May 2022 June 2022 July 2022 August 2022 September 2022 October 2022 November 2022 December 2022 January 2023 February 2023 March 2023 April 2023 May 2023 June 2023 July 2023 August 2023 September 2023 October 2023 November 2023 December 2023 January 2024 February 2024 March 2024
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29
30
31
News Every Day |

Senator Josh Hawley's Big Tech War Is A Big Win For Lawyers

Daniel Lyons

Politics, Americas

There is a real need to approach Section 230 reform thoughtfully and carefully. Simply unleashing the trial lawyers is neither.

As my AEI colleague Mark Jamison discussed yesterday, there is significant buzz on both ends of the political spectrum to reform Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the cornerstone of internet law. Last week, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) argued that the best way to stop Big Tech censorship is to weaken Section 230’s protections and unleash the trial lawyers on Silicon Valley; in his words, “let Americans sue!” As a law professor, I should perhaps be excited by the new job opportunities Hawley wishes to create for our graduates. But there are reasons to be skeptical of this move to shift tech oversight from Congress to the courtroom.

Section 230: Shield, not sword

Section 230 provides two important protections for internet-based companies. Section 230(c)(1) offers “posting immunity”: It assures that companies such as Facebook are not held liable for material that their users post online. Section 230(c)(2) also provides “takedown immunity”: It insulates companies from liability for removing user content that the company, in good faith, determines is objectionable. Together, these provisions give internet-based companies near-plenary authority to manage user-generated content, which shaped the social media revolution.

Conservatives like Hawley argue that many companies take advantage of this protection to tilt the political landscape by suppressing right-of-center viewpoints. Many conservative proposals, such as the White House’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) petition, would correct this perceived bias by limiting “takedown immunity.” NTIA would limit the categories of material that could be deemed “objectionable” and would define “good faith” to exclude entities that favor certain viewpoints.

Sue for what?

But limiting a company’s “takedown immunity” would not, by itself, permit aggrieved keyboard warriors to file suit. While Section 230 reform might remove a company’s legal shield, plaintiffs still need a sword. What law is violated by removing user-generated content?

There are a few contenders, but none are particularly strong. One could argue breach of contract: Removing a post violates the agreement between the user and the platform. But all major platforms reserve the right to edit content in their terms of service, making this claim a nonstarter. Others have argued that takedowns violate the user’s free speech rights. But with limited exceptions, the First Amendment prohibits only government interference with speech and does not bind private parties.

Perhaps one could bring an unfair or deceptive conduct claim if a company has promised to be politically neutral. But generally, these claims are difficult to bring, which is why companies rarely invoke “takedown immunity”: A recent review of 500 Section 230 cases by the Internet Association found only 19 involving Section 230(c)(2). (It also explains why Big Tech has little to fear from most proposals to reform takedown immunity.)

Hawley’s proposal: Beating shields into swords

This is where the Hawley bill differs from many other proposals on the right: It modifies posting immunity, not takedown immunity. In order to receive the protection of Section 230(c)(1), large edge providers must promise to design and operate their service in good faith. “Good faith” means “act[ing] with an honest belief and purpose” and “observ[ing] fair dealing standards,” and is violated by “intentionally selective enforcement” of the terms of service, including takedowns. Violation of this promise would allow the affected user to sue for $5000 or actual damages, whichever is more.

Hawley’s bill thus incentivizes companies to give users the sword that has thus far eluded plaintiffs. To receive posting immunity, companies must voluntarily agree to be sued by users who feel targeted for “intentionally selective enforcement” of the company’s terms. Unlike takedown immunity, posting immunity is critically important to modern platforms. Facebook, Twitter, and comment threads would operate differently if the host could be sued for a user’s defamatory speech or conduct. Hawley’s bill thus requires platforms to pick their poison: either allow users to sue for takedowns, or risk liability for user posts.

Setting aside potential constitutionality concerns, this bill represents a field day for trial lawyers. Terms like “honest belief,” “fair dealing,” and “intentionally selective enforcement” are not self-defining and will be litigated. Even if platforms win most cases, the litigation costs eviscerate one of the key benefits of Section 230, which is escaping at the motion to dismiss stage before costly discovery begins. With the possibility of a $5000 payoff for every user who feels slighted, platforms face the prospect of death by a thousand paper cuts.

Perhaps Hawley doesn’t mind. He is no friend of Big Tech and has broken from GOP colleagues on tort reform before. But the tech sector has been a beacon of American strength on the world stage, provoking jealousy from European and Chinese regulators. These companies help connect millions of Americans daily, which is especially valuable during the present pandemic. Dr. Jamison is right about the need to approach Section 230 reform thoughtfully and carefully. Simply unleashing the trial lawyers is neither.

This article first appeared at the American Enterprise Institute.

Image: Reuters.

Новости 24 часа

Шапки женские на Wildberries — скидки от 398 руб. (на новые оттенки)

Top 10 Emmanuelle Seigner Movies

Top 5 Websites to Watch FREE Movies - TV Shows (No Sign up!)

The 10 Intense New Action Movies on Netflix That Left Me on the Edge of My Seat!

I was diagnosed with cancer aged 39… you are never too rich, too famous or too young, says Dr Philippa Kaye

Ria.city






Read also

Grief book author ‘tried poisoning husband with sandwich on Valentine’s Day before killing him’

I have the greenest grass in town – I do my secret trick when my neighbors are at work, it’s my greatest life hack

Twisted magnetic field observed around Milky Way’s black hole

News, articles, comments, with a minute-by-minute update, now on Today24.pro

News Every Day

The 10 Intense New Action Movies on Netflix That Left Me on the Edge of My Seat!

Today24.pro — latest news 24/7. You can add your news instantly now — here


News Every Day

The 10 Intense New Action Movies on Netflix That Left Me on the Edge of My Seat!



Sports today


Новости тенниса
WTA

Азаренко вышла в полуфинал турнира WTA-1000 в Майами



Спорт в России и мире
Москва

В хоккейном ЦСКА сменился главный тренер



All sports news today





Sports in Russia today

Москва

Актера Свиридова госпитализировали из-за инфицирования после операции в Москве


Новости России

Game News

Шапки женские на Wildberries — скидки от 398 руб. (на новые оттенки)


Russian.city


Українські новини

Хризантема - вродлива квітка, що вимагає особливого догляду


Губернаторы России
Шапка

Шапки женские на Wildberries — скидки от 398 руб. (на новые оттенки)


Сотрудники СберСтрахования жизни приняли участие в донорстве крови

Квиз ко дню основания Большого театра опубликовали на портале «Узнай Москву»

Шапки женские вязаные на Wildberries, 2024 — новый цвет от 392 руб. (модель 466)

Две космические фотовыставки пройдут в музее-заповеднике "Кузьминки-Люблино": Старт 1 апреля


Семен Слепаков решил избавиться от последнего бизнеса в России

Кто из российских звезд перевел миллионы рублей жертвам «Крокуса»: сколько пожертвовали SHAMAN, Моргенштерн*, Бузова, Крид, INSTASAMKA, «Пикник» и другие

Invest AG настраивает на своем // Земли в Новой Москве останутся структурам компании на жилых условиях

Олег Митяев отменил концерты в Тюмени и Тобольске


Теннисист Медведев вышел в полуфинал турнира в Майами, обыграв Харри

Эшли Барти посетила третий этап Формулы-1 в Австралии

Россиянка Александрова обыграла первую ракетку мира Свентек

Хачанов: хочу вернуться в топ-10 ATP



Каждый пятый российский зумер планирует переехать из города-миллионника в Москву

Выпуск ЦФА на платформе «Атомайз» поможет снизить нагрузку на экологию

Заказать недорогой ремонт кухонной мебели в районе в Москве и Московской области

Всем по местам: в России назвали топ благополучных регионов


На Алтае подвели итоги работы центра одаренных детей за 2023 год

Зампред Мосгордумы Андрей Медведев призвал привлечь к ответственности азербайджанского миллиардера, владельца «Крокуса» Араза Агаларова

Югра – победитель Зимних Игр Паралимпийцев «Мы вместе. Спорт» по следж-хоккею

Преподаватель ХГУ Валентина Тугужекова подготовила более 40 учёных


Сервис GetPayAll обеспечил россиянам возможность продления подписки на сервис по генерации изображений Midjourney

Я – фартовая! Слушательница ENERGY отправилась в Мексику на выступление Джареда Лето

NYT: США не передали России все имевшиеся данные об угрозе теракта в «Крокусе»

Онлайн-кинотеатр Музея Победы покажет фильм к юбилею легендарного авиаконструктора 



Путин в России и мире






Персональные новости Russian.city
Концерт

Концерт благотворительного фонда Владимира Спивакова прошел в Солнечногорске



News Every Day

Top 10 Emmanuelle Seigner Movies




Friends of Today24

Музыкальные новости

Персональные новости