White House proposal would have FCC and FTC police alleged social media censorship

www.cnn.com ^ | August 10, 2019 | Brian Fung

[ransomnote]

Washington (CNN Business)A draft executive order from the White House could put the Federal Communications Commission in charge of shaping how Facebook (FB), Twitter (TWTR) and other large tech companies curate what appears on their websites, according to multiple people familiar with the matter.

The draft order, a summary of which was obtained by CNN, calls for the FCC to develop new regulations clarifying how and when the law protects social media websites when they decide to remove or suppress content on their platforms. Although still in its early stages and subject to change, the Trump administration's draft order also calls for the Federal Trade Commission to take those new policies into account when it investigates or files lawsuits against misbehaving companies. Politico first reported the existence of the draft.

If put into effect, the order would reflect a significant escalation by President Trump in his frequent attacks against social media companies over an alleged but unproven systemic bias against conservatives by technology platforms. And it could lead to a significant reinterpretation of a law that, its authors have insisted, was meant to give tech companies broad freedom to handle content as they see fit.

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[Responsibility2nd]

This appears to be a good start.

Better than ignoring the problem and further delaying the action against Social Media that is desperately needed.

Failure to reign in Google, Facebook et al will cost us the 2020 elections.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

IF this is needed, it should be through legislation. Not EO.

We’re hanging on to the Constitution by our fingernails.

[Openurmind]

“alleged but unproven systemic bias against conservatives by technology platforms.”

They keep repeating that lie, it has been proven many times over and even by some of us personally.

[Ace's Dad]

IF this is needed, it should be through legislation. Not EO

I don't think the House would support censoring social media. An EO would fill the gap until and if the House is more amenable to control. Just my take on the issue.

[Fhios]

Null and void provisions in the End User Agreements that impede users law suites, and forced arbritation. Extend it to other huge online crorps

[webheart]

For one thing, the internet was developed by the Defense Department and other Federal agencies and departments along with universities and tech companies like IBM and HP. But mostly public sector money paid for it. We own it. We the people own it. That makes it a public utility like the old phone companies and electric companies. It is fully within existing legislation to regulate the internet. Communication companies like radio stations and tv networks and the aforementioned phone companies have always been regulated by the FCC. The FTC regulates trade I guess among companies that operate between states. I think Google is selling information and advertising between states so they are regulatable under the same laws that govern dog food or car insurance.
I think it more important that we do away with legislation that gives the federal government so much power but for the time being I think it is good to have the government level the playing field.

[Roccus]

FTA "...according to multiple people familiar with the matter..."

Two people with FB accounts.

[cdcdawg]

not as good as brute squads being sent into Silicon Valley boardrooms and executive offices and beating the snot out of them, but it might be a start.

[TheNext]

JUST PULL THEIR PATENTS

JUST PULL THEIR PATENTS

JUST PULL THEIR PATENTS

Let other competition make social media.

[Sacajaweau]

Something definitely has to be done. I’d really like to see everyone cancel their twitter accounts and send the damn site to the gates of hell.

[demkicker]

Great points - I agree 100%!!!

[montag813]

alleged but unproven systemic bias against conservatives by technology platforms

This is the talking point of the day across all media. Unproven. Without evidence. Despite the documented 8,000 to 1 deletion of conservative fans on Facebook, purge of conservative activists on Twitter (and NO leftists) and massive purge of 80 million fans of pro-Trump meme-publishers on Instagram just last week.

[montag813]

IF this is needed, it should be through legislation. Not EO.

Nah. The FCC is an Executive agency, which has made hundreds of rulings on TV and cable networks for decades. These so-called "social media" companies are just modern versions of public networks, and it is far past time they be regulated as such.

[TBP]

This makes me nervous.

Treat them as publishers, not platforms.

[TBP]

Facebook (FB), Twitter (TWTR)

If those are stock symbols, we should all buy into them and see if we can get enough stock to put a stop to this.

[Midwesterner53]

Good start until these monopolies can be busted up.

[rstrahan]

You will NEVER get legislation through both houses. Too much mega-tech money.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Have the liberal deep-state departments be the watchdog for social media censorship? Ha! They won’t find any.

They should hire Judicial Watch to do the job. Fitton would be fantastic at it. Then Fitton could subcontract Jim Robinson who would enlist all FReepers to do a crowd-sourced job. Only then would there be credibility.

[SunkenCiv]

...alleged...

My ass.

Partisan Media Shills update.