Drafting an order to regulate Facebook and Twitter for bias

[struggle4progress]

By Russell Brandom Aug 9, 2019, 1:17pm EDT

The White House has drafted an ambitious new proposal to regulate social media platforms, with the aim of combating perceived bias against conservatives, according to a new report from CNN. The proposal, some details of which were previously reported by Politico, would call on the FCC to develop new regulations concerning how social media platforms are allowed to moderate their users.

The FTC, which typically focuses on consumer protection issues, would also be required to maintain a public complaint docket for users who believe their rights have been infringed by online moderation. Those complaints could be used as grounds for an FTC lawsuit against a platform like Facebook, if the platform’s behavior was found to injure consumers.

The order is still in its early stages, and may not be introduced in its current form. Still, the details suggest President Trump is serious about initiating new regulations on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. The president recently halted all Twitter spending by his campaign in retaliation for a moderation action that briefly suspended Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s Twitter account.

As described by CNN, the proposal raises a number of legal issues. Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act gives companies broad discretion for moderating speech. Even if that moderation is found to be undertaken in bad faith, platforms can only be held liable under very specific circumstances. Any attempt to expand that liability would likely face a significant judicial challenge ...

https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/9/20798759/trump-social-media-regulation-fcc-ftc-conservative-bias

"I have a dream that one day the internet will be safe for Russian trolls and bots!"

[Iliyah]

1. Not going to happen.

1. They would lose tons of money. . .

2. Lawsuits tied up in courts for years . . .

3. The dictator will be gone by then . . .

[Thekaspervote]

2. The fool doesn't seem to realize restrictions would also include him and his idiot base

[pangaia]

3. could be the beginning of what i have suspected would happen for a long time

censoring the left..

[PSPS]

4. LOL. Of course, they can't legally do this any more than they can control letters to the editor

Facebook and Twitter, just like the NYT and all newspapers, are private companies. They have full control over what they allow to be printed or posted. What they're proposing would be a 1st amendment problem of the first order.

[hedda_foil]

6. Only if the law still holds. It's being hacked at like kudzu.

[GulfCoast66]

5. This will go the way of the citizenship question.

His toadies can write whatever policy they want.

Good luck finding lawyers to actually make up a defense. They are all young and have careers to think about. No one is arguing this in front of a court. Well, unless Barr himself decides to argue a case.

More meat for the base.

This is all so he can say he tried but the liberal judges stopped him. Despite the fact republican appointed judges, including some of his appointees have voted against him. Just like the wall.

And if we slip into recession in the 2nd quarter next year it will be the Fed and Obama’s fault.

He threw double 6’s to win in 2016. His behavior has left him with no choice but to try it again. He could do it again, but I rather think not.