Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act has faced increasing political opposition as the law has become a fixture of recent public discussion. Proponents of § 230 applaud the law for shaping the modern internet into the expansive, open platform for public dialogue that we know today. Opponents, however, critique the law for its blanket immunity provided to internet platforms, which allows internet platforms to exert editorial control without fear of liability. Many have considered whether § 230 provides internet platforms with too much power to shape the content people consume. If it does, how can the law be changed to create greater accountability for internet platforms without losing its intended and beneficial purpose? This article seeks to answer these questions, offering several proposed amendments to strip some protections provided to internet publishers while maintaining the internet’s status as an open channel of discourse.
Don’t Break the Internet: § 230 and Its Role Within Today’s Modern Internet Era
Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act has faced increasing political opposition as the law has become a fixture of