Facebook and Google CEOs provide inputs to reform net law to combat misinformation
25 March, 2021
Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg organized steps to reform an integral internet laws on Wednesday, declaring that companies must have immunity from liability only if they follow guidelines for removing damaging materials from their platforms.
In testimony well prepared for a joint hearing before two House Energy and Commerce subcommittees on Thursday, Mr Zuckerberg acknowledged the calls from lawmakers for changes to a law called Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which gives companies like Facebook immunity from liability over content posted by users.
The hearing titled 'Disinformation Nation: Social media's role to advertise extremism and misinformation' was created to address concerns Democrats experienced about the spread of misinformation through the coronavirus pandemic and the presidential election.
It is also more likely to discuss ways to hold tech platforms accountable by reforming the internet law. The principle executives of Google and Twitter may also testify at the hearing.
Google's Sundar Pichai can make suggestions to reform regulations but, unlike Mr Zuckerberg, won't advocate for adoption of a couple of guidelines, according to his testimony. Twitter's Jack Dorsey will lay out steps the system has taken up to tackle misinformation.
Mr Zuckerberg and Mr Pichai will also desire caution as Congress considers reforming the law.
"Platforms shouldn't be held liable if a particular piece of content material evades its detection - that might be impractical for systems with billions of posts each day," Mr Zuckerberg wrote found in his testimony.
Google's Mr Pichai also struck an identical note telling "without Section 230, systems would either over-filter content material or not be able to filter content at all".
Mr Pichai instead proposed solutions such as developing content plans that are obvious and accessible, notifying persons when their content is removed and providing them with methods to appeal content decisions.
There are several bits of legislation from Democrats to reform Section 230 that are doing the rounds in Congress. More than a few Republican lawmakers are also pushing individually to scrap regulations entirely.
Source: www.thenationalnews.com