Trump Executive Order Threatens Online Free Speech After Twitter Fact-Check
President Trump signs an executive order targeting social media companies after Twitter fact-checks his tweets, sparking severe concerns over global online freedom of expression. The order seeks to strip legal protections from platforms that moderate content in ways the government dislikes.
President Trump issues an executive order that attacks online freedom of expression globally by targeting social media platforms. The order comes just days after Twitter places a fact-check label on his tweets regarding mail-in ballots, prompting the government to threaten companies that displease it.
The directive attempts to make legal protections under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act contingent on whether platforms moderate content in "good faith." By asking the Federal Communications Commission to define this standard, the order threatens social media companies with massive litigation if the executive branch disagrees with their moderation decisions.
Human Rights Watch warns that this action amounts to a threat to punish platforms and their users simply because the government dislikes how content is moderated. The order also prohibits federal advertising on platforms deemed to restrict free speech and directs regulators to scrutinize major sites, setting the stage for likely court challenges.