Republicans on the Senate Commerce Committee are exploring ways to follow up on a contentious big tech hearing days ago about how to ensure companies do not censor content due to political bias.
Lee’s first action will be highlighting the public the differences between what the CEOs of these technology companies claim to be their company policies and what actions the companies actually take, Carroll said.
Looking into whether Big Tech uses their market power to undermine competition is another avenue Lee is taking, and examining whether current laws, like Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, “are in need of reform or clarity” is another. Lee also believes there needs to be a balance when taking any major steps.
“There may be more actions that need to be taken or at least considered, but Senator Lee believes that any efforts by Congress to address big tech problems must receive robust debate and careful consideration as not to harm the internet ecosystem that has revolutionized commerce and the sharing of ideas,” Carroll said.
“The events of recent days have made reform even more urgent. Today’s large online platforms hold tremendous power over the information and views available to the American people,” the letter states. “It is therefore critical that they be honest and transparent with users about how they use that power. And when they are not, it is critical that they can be held accountable.”
The Trump administration has been vocal about the need to change Section 230 in order to force internet companies to manage and moderate content on their platforms responsibly and fairly, and has accused online platforms such as Facebook and Twitter of engaging in censorship of certain viewpoints.
The president has often floated the idea of repealing Section 230 protections altogether.
