Is press freedom being threatened in America? Can free speech really be censored in the land of the free?
Many Americans believe it is already happening through Twitter, Facebook, Google, and YouTube.
But politicians are divided along party lines on the matter. While Republicans accuse social media companies of censoring conservative viewpoints, Democrats urged them to do more to stop the spread of misinformation and content that could incite violence.
Tech CEOs have appeared before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook; Sundar Pichai, Google; and Jack Dorsey, Twitter gave testimonies.
Twitter censored the New York Post’s story about the financial scandal involving Hunter Biden in Ukraine and China. It prevented users from sharing or sending the article link shortly after it was published.
Twitter also suspended the newspaper’s Twitter account along with other prominent and verified users.
The personal Twitter account of Kayleigh McEnany, White House Press Secretary, and the Trump Campaign was also suspended after they shared information and links related to the Post’s story.
New York Post is reportedly the 4th highest circulating newspaper in America. The over 200 years old paper was founded by Alexander Hamilton, one of the United States’ founding fathers.
But should social media companies be allowed to keep the privileges of both a public forum and publisher simultaneously?
Can they have it both ways? The protections of a public forum and editorial control of a publisher. This issue featured prominently in the Senate Committee hearing, putting a focus on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act
Section 230, Communications Decency Act
Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act co-sponsored by Democrats and Republicans and passed by Congress in 1996.
It shields social media companies from liability for content posted on their sites protected as a public forum. This helps to promote diversity in political discourse.
For instance, Twitter as a public forum allows people to create content, and host it on their platform and anyone with an internet connection can watch or read it.
The public forum website cannot be held legally responsible for content deemed illegal or bad. This gives them a chance to host a wide variety of materials without fear of being sued.
Senator Ted Cruz from Texas expressed concern that social media companies could tell the news media what stories they can publish and what the American people can hear.
“Twitter crossed a threshold that is fundamental to Americans,”
CRUZ said at the Committee hearing
But Jack Dorsey says it has lifted the suspension of New York Post’s account. He noted that they took that decision to block because they thought it violated their hacked materials policy.
Akatarian gathered that the Senate Committee will hold a further hearing on the matter.
