This was an interesting column until the last paragraph. Section 230 has been overall a huge win for Internet content from the "peasants" in the USA. There would be drastic side effects from removing it. I'm aware that it's not perfect, but anybody talking about removing it without addressing the negative consequences of that move isn't telling the whole story.
Jason Maas, could you please elaborate? What exactly is sectiom 230, how has it been a win for (us?) “peasants,” what do we stand to lose, and what would be a better solution to increase internet safety?
Sure! Yes, I meant us regular folks by "peasants", somewhat tongue in cheek, meaning that we're not rich people in charge of Big Tech.
Section 230 removes liability for companies that host user-generated content.
So it makes this comment system at World and any other website feasible. Without it, WORLD would liable for anything that anyone posts. That's a lawyer's worst nightmare, so they'd just not have any comment system.
Same idea for social media websites, and also website publishing systems like Wix, Squarespace, etc.
Basically us commoners wouldn't be able to post anything on the Internet in the USA without section 230.
Here's a decent article that explains some of why powerful people on both sides of the aisle are chafing at Section 230 for different reasons. And if both parties don't like something, that probably means it's doing its job!
This was an interesting column until the last paragraph. Section 230 has been overall a huge win for Internet content from the "peasants" in the USA. There would be drastic side effects from removing it. I'm aware that it's not perfect, but anybody talking about removing it without addressing the negative consequences of that move isn't telling the whole story.
Jason Maas, could you please elaborate? What exactly is sectiom 230, how has it been a win for (us?) “peasants,” what do we stand to lose, and what would be a better solution to increase internet safety?
Sure! Yes, I meant us regular folks by "peasants", somewhat tongue in cheek, meaning that we're not rich people in charge of Big Tech.
Section 230 removes liability for companies that host user-generated content.
So it makes this comment system at World and any other website feasible. Without it, WORLD would liable for anything that anyone posts. That's a lawyer's worst nightmare, so they'd just not have any comment system.
Same idea for social media websites, and also website publishing systems like Wix, Squarespace, etc.
Basically us commoners wouldn't be able to post anything on the Internet in the USA without section 230.
Here's a decent article that explains some of why powerful people on both sides of the aisle are chafing at Section 230 for different reasons. And if both parties don't like something, that probably means it's doing its job!
https://appleinsider.com/articles/25/03/21/the-future-of-internet-liability-is-uncertain-as-congress-targets-section-230