Civil Rights Coalition Urges Caution on Section 230 Reforms Ahead of Tech Hearing
A major civil rights coalition submits a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee outlining the dual nature of technology and urging careful consideration before altering Section 230.
A coalition of more than 220 civil rights organizations submits a formal letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee ahead of a hearing on censorship, suppression, and the 2020 election. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights highlights how the internet provides immense positive value by connecting people and facilitating advocacy, but also warns that it enables discriminatory conduct and gives bad actors new tools to harass and intimidate others.
While the coalition welcomes scrutiny of social media companies and their role in democracy, it strongly urges caution regarding potential changes to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The group emphasizes that lawmakers must ensure any proposed modifications to the legal shield do not ultimately cause more harm than good to the public.
The organization points to recent updated Civil Rights Principles for the Era of Big Data as a framework for addressing current risks like disinformation, surveillance, and voter suppression. Ultimately, the coalition asks the committee to focus on opportunities that ensure technological progress promotes equity, justice, and safety for everyone rather than exacerbating existing societal disparities.