Hillary Clinton is urging for the repeal of Section 230 in her pursuit of more stringent regulations on social media, aiming to enhance safety measures particularly for children.
At a Glance
- Calls for federal action to enhance social media safety protocols.
- Advocates repealing Section 230 to hold platforms accountable.
- Proposes phone bans in schools to improve student focus.
- Criticized for potentially undermining free speech.
Clinton’s Stand on Section 230
Hillary Clinton emphasizes the need for national action to ensure safer internet use, chiefly for children. Her concerns are partly documented in her recent book, “Something Lost and Something Gained,” addressing the negative effects of social media on children’s mental well-being.
“We should be, in my view, repealing something called section 230, which gave platforms on the internet immunity because they were thought to be just pass-throughs, that they shouldn’t be judged for the content that is posted.” – Hillary Clinton
California and New York’s initiatives on social media regulations receive praise, but Clinton stresses the necessity of federal policies. She believes Congress has been ineffective in tackling these online threats, advocating for the repeal of Section 230 that provides platforms immunity for user-generated content.
Content Moderation and School Policies
Clinton points out the hazards of unmoderated content, including child pornography and threats of violence. She suggests revoking immunity for platforms to establish necessary “guardrails” in content moderation, urging entities like Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, and TikTok to preserve public safety by regulating harmful content.
Clinton also proposes limiting cellphone use within school environments to foster better student interaction and attention, noting its past application in some educational institutions. She claims this restriction helps improve discipline and bolsters focus among students.
Election Interference and Public Reaction
Drawing lessons from the 2016 election, Clinton advocates for introducing civil or criminal charges against individuals engaged in spreading propaganda to alter election outcomes. This proposal is part of her broader campaign to curb misinformation online.
Tulsi Gabbard criticizes Clinton’s views as a maneuver to suppress free speech, implying a desire for “total control” over public discourse—a criticism echoed by others wary of such regulations impairing First Amendment rights.
Clinton’s remarks and policies remain controversial, stoking debate over the balance between free expression and public safety in the digital age. As she continues to address these issues publicly, discussions surrounding the future of internet regulation are likely to intensify.
Hillary Clinton: If Social Media Platforms Don't Have To Moderate Content, "We Lose Total Control"
Read more – https://t.co/BdMv3wHVfP
"We should be repealing something called Section 230, which gave platforms on the internet immunity because they were thought to be just… pic.twitter.com/Q6q4yMjfvg
— RCP Video (@rcpvideo) October 6, 2024
“We need national action and sadly, our Congress has been dysfunctional when it comes to addressing these threats to our children.” – Hillary Clinton
Sources
1. Hillary Clinton pushes for stronger social media regulation
