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In a Thursday press conference, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., introduced a bill to abolish Section 230.
The law in question, part of the Communications Decency Act, serves to shield companies like Twitter and Facebook from liability stemming from information published by third parties.
As reported by The Hill:
“Greene’s bill would eliminate the law making online platforms not liable for content posted by third parties and replace it with a provision to require ‘reasonable, non-discriminatory access to online communications platforms’ through a ‘common carrier’ framework that Greene compared to airlines or package delivery services.”
It would also allow providers to restrict access to lewd and obscene material (i.e., pornography, overly violent content, and/or harassing or unlawful content), compel companies to disclose their content moderation policies, and allow consumers to sue for violations.
In seeking to abolish Section 230, Greene cited the continued censorship of various conservatives, including President Donald Trump, bias against conservative viewpoints, and the unfettered power that such companies exert.
In January, Greene’s personal Twitter account was permanently suspended because she allegedly violated Twitter’s policy on “misinformation” regarding Covid-19.
During the press conference, the Georgia congresswoman pushed back against concerns related to so-called “misinformation,” noting that such claims are often solely aimed at opinions from conservatives that do not align with those on the left.
In seeking to abolish Section 230, she expressed her support for freedom of speech. According to Greene, “Social media would be a common carrier very much like FedEx or the airlines where no matter who you are, you can buy a plane ticket and then fly somewhere.”
Greene is not alone, as others have expressed concerns with Section 230. As recently reported by Right Side Broadcasting Network, Justice Clarence Thomas recently issued a statement to express his concerns with Section 230 and call for the court to “address the proper scope of immunity under §230.”
The congresswoman’s announcement came at a particularly contentious time, as many Democrats have voiced anger due to Elon Musk’s recent decision to purchase Twitter.
According to Greene, “Elon Musk buying Twitter and talking about defending free speech has ramped up the Democrats’ efforts to want to clamp down on speech. And so that made me realize, you know, that I need to introduce this now.”
With the midterms approaching, Greene’s hope is that this bill will be seriously considered if Republicans regain control of Congress.
Mr. Hakim is an attorney and columnist. His articles have been published in The Washington Examiner, The Daily Caller, The Federalist, American Thinker, and other online publications. He is also a regular guest on OANN’s Tipping Point, and has appeared on Newsmax, The Dave Weinbaum Show, and Real America’s Voice.