I hope you saw my latest weekly column.

 

ROGER WICKER: Time to end free pass for powerful tech companies
<[link removed]>

 

This past week, I convened the CEOs of Facebook, Twitter, and Google for an
important hearing addressing censorship and political bias on their platforms.
These companies control the vast flow of news and information online and have
faced growing criticism for restricting conservative voices and the free spread
of information. The hearing, which I chaired in the Senate Commerce Committee,
gave senators the opportunity to challenge these executives on their “content
moderation” practices and discuss what reforms are needed to bring
accountability to this powerful industry.

 

Much of our discussion centered on Section 230 of the Communications Decency
Act, which Congress passed in 1996. Section 230 protects online platforms from
liability in removing content they find objectionable. These protections have
been pivotal in shielding tech companies from potentially ruinous lawsuits and
promoting the growth of the internet. But they have also given Big Tech free
reign to censor content as they see fit without facing consequences for their
actions. Their decision-making processes remain largely hidden, and users have
few options when they are censored or restricted.

 

Big Tech’s double standard

 

During the hearing, I pressed the witnesses for answers about the recent
suppression of a news story involving Joe Biden and his son Hunter. On Oct. 15,
the New York Post published a story that included damaging allegations against
the former Vice President, who is now the Democrat nominee for President.
Almost immediately after publication, Facebook and Twitter took steps to block
or limit access to the story. Facebook suppressed the story’s distribution
pending a third-party fact check. Twitter went further and blocked all users
from sharing the content. It even locked the Post’s account, claiming the story
included “hacked materials” and was “potentially harmful.”

 

The CEO of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, admitted in our hearing that his company had
made a mistake. Both he and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said they have no
evidence that the story came from Russian disinformation. Even so, the Post’s
Twitter account remained locked when we held the hearing almost two weeks after
the fact.

 

It is worth noting that Twitter and Facebook have not been consistent in
censoring illegally obtained materials. For example, when the President’s tax
returns were leaked without his permission in September, neither company acted
to restrict access to the information. Similarly, social media companies have
allowed the now-discredited Steele dossier to be shared widely without
fact-checking or disclaimers. And Twitter routinely allows foreign dictators,
such as Iran’s Ayatollah, to post anti-Semitic and threatening tweets, which
Mr. Dorsey dismissed as mere “saber rattling.”

 

This double standard would be appalling under normal circumstances, but
selectively censoring the New York Post story during an election cycle is
beyond the pale. It is no wonder many conservatives accuse tech companies of
hypocrisy and election interference.

 

Time to reform Section 230

 

In the 24 years since Congress passed Section 230, tech companies have become
enormously powerful. I am concerned that they have become unchecked referees
determining what is true and what information Americans can access. The time is
ripe to revisit Section 230.

 

With this goal in mind, I recently introduced the Online Freedom and Viewpoint
Diversity Act to clarify Section 230 and make the law less prone to abuse. This
legislation would place a check on powerful tech giants while still preserving
the core aspects of Section 230 that have allowed the tech industry to thrive
and innovate. Congress needs to strike a reasonable balance, but it is clear
that tech companies should no longer receive a free pass for acts of political
bias.

 

You can click here to share my Op-Ed with your friends on Facebook!
<[link removed]>

 

Thank you for your support,

Senator Roger Wicker

 

 

Donate
<[link removed]>
Please mail contributions to P.O. Box 64, Jackson, MS 39205.


Paid for by Wicker for Senate


You can also keep up with Roger Wicker on Twitter
<[link removed]> or Facebook.
<[link removed]>


Don't want to receive our emails anymore? Unsubscribe
<[link removed]>