section 230 is a clause in the Communications Decency Act of 1996, which is called the 26 word phrase that created the internet. it limits legal liability for tech platforms hosting user-generated content, as in this place. it states a social media platform (or it's owners and employees) cannot be held legally responsible for any illegal content posted by its users.
what started this : mostly the dumpster fire at the crossroads of politics and twitter. section 230 has come under attack from both the right and the left. one side claims the law squashes their viewpoint, while the other complains it enables hate speech. both have partisan reasons for wanting to see it killed.
why this matters : a majority of the content here would be considered illegal in many jurisdictions, both inside and outside of the US. including federally. repealing section 230 could mean opening the board and owner up to legal jeopardy, leading to severe restrictions on posting here, or possibly even shutting down.
while the political fight is over partisan ideology, the fallout could easily be far more reaching, affecting everyone here.
sec 230 : "No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider."
edit : while it is an american law, it would be nice if we could all express a desire to see it upheld.
what started this : mostly the dumpster fire at the crossroads of politics and twitter. section 230 has come under attack from both the right and the left. one side claims the law squashes their viewpoint, while the other complains it enables hate speech. both have partisan reasons for wanting to see it killed.
why this matters : a majority of the content here would be considered illegal in many jurisdictions, both inside and outside of the US. including federally. repealing section 230 could mean opening the board and owner up to legal jeopardy, leading to severe restrictions on posting here, or possibly even shutting down.
while the political fight is over partisan ideology, the fallout could easily be far more reaching, affecting everyone here.
sec 230 : "No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider."
edit : while it is an american law, it would be nice if we could all express a desire to see it upheld.