Section 230: What it is and why Donald Trump wants a judge to overrule it

Jul 08, 2021 at 09:02 PM CDT

Donald Trump has filed class action lawsuits against Twitter, Facebook, and Google. In the filings, his legal team highlight the role of Section 230 – something Trump has long opposed. It’s a section of the Communications Decency Act, which outlines the protections websites and internet platforms have from third-party users.

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DONALD TRUMP IS BACK IN THE NEWS…SEEKING CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS AGAINST SOME THE WORLD’S BIGGEST TECH GIANTS.

TRUMP SOT: “WE’RE GOING TO HOLD BIG TECH VERY ACCOUNTABLE.”

THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS TAKING ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND GOOGLE.
HE’S ALSO TAKING ON SECTION 230.

NEVER HEARD OF IT?

LET’S GET THIS STRAIGHT.

SECTION 230 IS PART OF THE COMMUNICATIONS DECENCY ACT.
THAT SECTION TOOK EFFECT IN 1996 TO CLARIFY THE DYNAMIC BETWEEN INTERNET PLATFORMS AND THEIR USERS.

THE SECTION OUTLINES HOW WEBSITES ARE NOT LIABLE FOR WHAT THEIR USERS POST OR WHAT THEY DECIDE TO TAKE DOWN.

MEANING THEY AREN’T ACCOUNTABLE FOR THINGS YOU POST, BUT THEY CAN HOLD *YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT YOU POST.

AND WE SAW THIS WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP…FIRST HAVING HIS POSTS REMOVED AND THEN BEING BANNED ENTIRELY.

HE CALLS IT CENSORSHIP, THEY CALL IT LEGAL.

BUT PERHAPS MORE SURPRISING, THE REMOVAL OF SECTION 230 IS SOMETHING BOTH THE FORMER AND CURRENT PRESIDENT AGREE ON.

LAST YEAR, PRESIDENT BIDEN SPOKE ABOUT THE NEED TO HOLD FACEBOOK ACCOUNTABLE BY REPEALING SECTION 230, SAYING:
“IT SHOULD BE REVOKED BECAUSE IT IS NOT MERELY AN INTERNET COMPANY. IT IS PROPAGATING FALSEHOODS THEY KNOW TO BE FALSE.”

COULD TRUMP’S LAWSUITS BRING THIS CHANGE? NOW IT’S FOR THE COURTS TO WEIGH IN.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?
LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.

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