Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has laid out steps to reform a key internet law on Wednesday, saying companies should have immunity from liability only if they follow best practices for removing damaging material from their platforms.
In testimony prepared for a joint hearing before two House Energy and Commerce subcommittees on Thursday, Zuckerberg acknowledged the calls from lawmakers for changes to a law called Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which gives companies like Facebook immunity from liability over content posted by users.
According to Reuters, the hearing titled ‘Disinformation Nation: Social media’s role in promoting extremism and misinformation’ was designed to address concerns Democrats have had about the spread of misinformation during the coronavirus pandemic and the presidential election.
It is also likely to discuss ways to hold tech platforms accountable by reforming the internet law. The chief executives of Google and Twitter will also testify at the hearing.
Google’s Sundar Pichai will make suggestions to reform the law but, unlike Zuckerberg, will not advocate for adoption of a set of best practices, according to his testimony. Twitter’s Jack Dorsey will lay out steps the platform has taken to tackle misinformation.
