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APP Press - Legislation

APP Backs House Bill Reforming Section 230 to Protect Free Speech

January 12, 2021

WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) reintroduced the Curbing Abuse and Saving Expression in Technology (CASE-IT) Act. The bill would amend Section 230, conditioning the immunity from civil liability it provides to online platforms on their adherence to a First Amendment standard. Additionally, the bill would strip the immunity from platforms which are found to be complicit in the sexual exploitation of children online.

Importantly, the bill also preserves current language allowing “Small Tech” innovators, market disruptors, and individual users to continue to enjoy their existing legal protections. Only market-dominant “Big Tech” companies would be required to adhere to a First Amendment standard in their content moderation in order to receive legal protections.

The legislation closely aligns with the principles proposed in American Principles Project’s blueprint for Big Tech reform released last year:Protecting Free Speech and Defending Kids: A Proposal to Amend Section 230.”

Jon Schweppe, APP’s director of policy and government affairs, released the following statement endorsing the CASE-IT Act:

The debate is no longer about whether Big Tech censorship is happening. Of course it is. Now the question is simple — will Congress do something about it?

American Principles Project is proud to endorse the CASE-IT Act because it is the most substantive Section 230 reform proposed in Congress to date. Not only would the legislation hold Big Tech accountable, but it would protect kids from dangerous content online. No more immunity for Big Tech censors. No more legal protections for child exploiters in the porn industry. It’s simple common sense.

Kudos to Congressman Steube for having the courage to fight on this important issue.

The full legislative text for the CASE-IT Act can be found here. 

To schedule an interview with an APP policy expert, contact Paul Dupont at (o) 202-503-2010 or pdupont@americanprinciplesproject.org.

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