CTA Says New Executive Order May Weaken Section 230 Protection

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) raised opposition to the executive order announced by the White House to scale back platform liability protections under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

In a statement, Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CTA termed the order as unconstitutional and ill-considered. He highlighted that the free speech protections in Section 230 are the legal underpinning of the U.S. online economy and its global leadership in digital technologies. The section protects the American internet companies that host an array of services including community bulletin boards and social media interactions.

The Association noted that the new executive order conflicts with existing law. It opposed the order saying that it will create a new law by which private companies will be made equivalent of public forums for speech purposes. As per existing system, the American government has no role in deciding the rules for private companies to run their platforms.

The pro-free speech norm as well as the low-touch regulation ideology has contributed immensely to the success of American innovators. The executive order by the President will only burden innovators and reduce their international competitiveness. Furthermore, it is visibly against the country’s legitimate efforts to protect and enhance free speech, CTA statement said.

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