The 2020 Election hits the late-stages with three weeks left before the country decides the fate of the next four years and beyond. As the cycle of misinformation continues to roll, Twitter and Facebook has taken unprecedented steps to delete content containing factual inaccuracies about the risks of Covid-19 including posts from President Trump.
Actions by the social media tech giants prompted an knee jerk reaction by Trump to tweet out "Repeal Section 230" to his million of followers. What the president is talking about is Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996. It provides immunity to online platforms from civil liability based on third-party content and for the removal of content in certain circumstances.
"This is actually legislation that basically treats Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, other internet companies that are not news media companies from being liable for all the things that people post," CEO of Fortalice Solutions Theresa Payton said on WBT Bo Thompson Morning Show.
"Section 230 allows social media companies to call themselves a platform; instead of a publisher."
What makes the act important is the framework for internet interaction as we know it. Rather than face potential liability for their users' actions, most use CDA 230 as a protection and has allowed the internet to thrive.
Listen to the entire interview with cyber security expert Theresa Payton.