Critics are alarmed about a bill advancing in the U.S. Senate to combat sexual exploitation of children, arguing that it would give the Justice Department power over content on the internet. The bill would also weak Section 230 that shields internet platforms from legal responsibility for content on their sites. The law would allow individuals to sue platforms for failing to take “proper steps” prevent child exploitation and would set up a panel of un-elected officials to determine the steps and establish “best practices” for the online platforms. (The Guardian, July 2, 2020, by Kari Paul)
The American Civil Liberties Union fears that the law would cause internet platforms to over regulate content to avoid liability. The Open Technology Institute said the law “incentivizes companies to over-censor speech, including that which is constitutionally protected….” (Gizmodo, July 3, 2020, by Dell Cameron)