Can you put a genie back in the bottle? Probably not, but maybe lawyers can? Something made clear by some of the information surrounding the recent Nashville bombing made clear to me that we are probably one conspiracy theory-driven mass casualty event away from a major political alignment behind Section 230 reforms. The Trump administration’s reactionary lambasts against 230 have been for all of the wrong reasons though they have forced Democrats to defend something they likely find problematic all the same. With a Biden administration the pressure to defend 230 will likely die off for Dems even as the more Trumpy in the Republican congressional circles continue to echo Trump’s wishes and raise the issue. As McConnell floats a doomed repeal of 230 in Trump’s final days in power, it’s unlikely that we will see any near-term full dismantling of 230 that are wholly driven by the political right’s own conspiracy theories, but it’s ignorant to believe that 230 is in the clear. Instead politicians will discuss a less hurried approach to reining in the reign of 230. Social media companies are facing some fundamental issues with talk of 230 reform that could do more damage to them than any antitrust action could. I can’t begin to dissect how this will all play out, but this will likely be a story that defines this year even without the President of the United States keeping it at the forefront of national conversation. Read more |
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