Under the proposed regime, large platforms would have to “earn immunity” by undergoing periodic audits and certification by the Federal Trade Commission. These audits, which would require a supermajority vote for approval, could force a broad range of social media platforms, apps, games, and other online services to disclose a trove of proprietary data to the government to get the legal protections they currently enjoy. And just like with Mexico, they would have to pay for it!
Understandably, the tech industry and associated pundit class were not fans of the bill, and responded withmockery and outrage. They deconstructed every provision in a barrage of officialstatements, blogs, and Twitter threads, characterizing it as an idiotic solution to a fake problem promoted by ignorant populists.