Today, NetChoice announced opposition to Sen. Hagerty’s (R-TN) introduction of the 21st Century FREE Speech Act — a bill designed to repeal Section 230 and treat social media like common carriers.
“In yet another attempt to capitalize on anti-tech fervor, this bill would take away the very tools websites use to keep the internet family-friendly and stop extremism, terrorism, and harassment online,” said Carl Szabo, Vice President and General Counsel for NetChoice.
“This bill violates the First Amendment by compelling private businesses to host a litany of horrid speech,” continued Szabo. “Proposals like the 21st Century FREE Speech Act abandon our nation’s founding values, are very likely unconstitutional without reproach, and could upend the online ecosystem that millions of Americans rely on every day.”