fta

Akin to ensuring that telecommunications companies aren’t held responsible for the content of phone conversations, Section 230 is a commonsense policy that allows for free discourse on the internet, subject to standards imposed by individual online platforms. Ironically, Biden’s stance echoes conservative politicians such as Sens. Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz, who have also called for Section 230’s repeal. In their case, the two Republicans are looking to punish companies such as Facebook for what they perceive as censorship of conservatives.

While liberal critics such as Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi describe the law as a “gift” to Big Tech companies, the opposite is true. Repealing Section 230 would also affect smaller platforms and independent websites, especially those allowing comments on articles. Unlike Facebook or Google, these companies typically don’t have the necessary resources to moderate or fact-check everything their users post.

Additionally, unlike the social media giants, most smaller companies don’t have the legal resources to withstand costly, protracted litigation that could drive them bankrupt even if they’re legally in the right. It’s strange, then, for critics to complain about the disproportionate influence that platforms such as Facebook have on public discourse while simultaneously advocating a legislative change that will further entrench their monopoly.