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WASHINGTON: A U.S. Senate hearing to reform an internet law and hold tech companies accountable for how they moderated content quickly turned into a political fight as lawmakers not only persecuted businesses, but they also attacked each other.
Lawmakers are divided on ways to hold big tech accountable under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects companies from liability for user-posted content, but also allows companies to shape to political discourse.
Republican lawmakers used most of their time during the hearing to accuse selective censorship companies against conservatives. Democrats focused primarily on insufficient action against misinformation that interferes with elections.
Responding to a limited number of questions about the law, Alphabet’s CEOs of Twitter, Facebook and Google said it was crucial for free expression on the Internet. They said Section 230 gives them the tools to strike a balance between preserving free speech and moderating content, even when they seemed open to suggestions that the law needs moderate changes.
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The three CEOs also agreed that companies should be held liable if the platforms act as publishers, but denied being the arbiters of political discourse, a claim that angered some Republicans.
Sen. Ted Cruz went after Twitter’s Jack Dorsey after the CEO said Twitter has no influence over the election.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai (on one screen), along with Twitter and Facebook CEOs, attended the Senate hearing aimed at reforming an Internet law and holding technology companies accountable for how they moderate content. (Photo: AP)
“Who the hell chose you and put you in charge of what the media can report and what the American people can hear,” Cruz said, referring to the platform’s decision to block the New York Post stories about the son of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. Prior to the hearing, the senator posted a picture on Twitter titled “Cross vs. Dorsey Free Speech Showdown” that showed him and Dorsey of Twitter facing off against each other.
Democratic Senator Brian Schatz said he had no questions and called the hearing “silly.” “This is bullying and it is for electoral purposes,” he said.
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Other Democrats, including Tammy Baldwin, Ed Markey and Amy Klobuchar, also said the hearing was held to aid President Donald Trump’s re-election effort.
Trump, who alleges that companies suppress conservative voices, tweeted “Revoke Section 230!” during the hearing.
Dorsey of Twitter, who received the most criticism from Republicans, warned the committee that eroding the foundations of Section 230 could significantly harm the way people communicate online. Sundar Pichai said that Google operates without political bias and that doing otherwise would be against its business interests.
Mark Zuckerberg, who briefly struggled with his internet connection at the beginning of the hearing, said he supports changing the law, but also cautioned that tech platforms are likely to censor more to avoid legal risks if Section 230 is repealed. Biden has expressed support for repeal of the law.
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NO MORE “FREE PASS”
Republican Senator Roger Wicker, who chairs the committee, said it was important to protect companies from liability without giving them the ability to censor content they don’t like.
“The time has come for that free pass to end,” he said.
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey delivers his opening statement remotely during a hearing to discuss reform of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. (AFP / Greg Nash)
Wicker also criticized Twitter’s decision to block the New York Post stories about Biden’s son and Facebook’s decision to limit its reach.
He and other senators like Cory Gardner criticized Twitter for failing to remove tweets from world leaders who allegedly spread misinformation but aggressively persecuted tweets from Republican President Donald Trump.
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US lawmakers are not the only ones pushing for reform.
The European Union Executive Commission is drafting a new Digital Services Law that, in addition to addressing market abuse by mainstream platforms, would also address liability for harmful or illegal content. Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager will release her proposals on December 2.
