One of the first bills that Rep. Hinson has cosponsored during her time as IA-01’s representative is the Curbing Abuse and Saving Expression in Technology (CASE-IT) Act. Currently, Big Tech companies take advantage of Section 230 to censor and suppress certain content with no accountability or liability. As you know, it is conservative voices that face the ire of Big Tech’s bias and are silenced online.
Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-01)
Just last week, Twitter permanently suspended President Trump’s account. Yet, Twitter allows content (typically propaganda and in some cases violent threats against Americans) posted by foreign dictators like Chinese Communist Party leaders and the Ayatollah to run rampant on its platform. Hinson pointed this hypocrisy out last week, posting screenshots of some of the worst offenses- including a receipt of the CCP promoting genocide against Uighur Muslims the same day Twitter banned the President.
I proudly cosponsored this legislation to hold Big Tech accountable for their selective censorship. For too long, Big Tech platforms have been playing by their own rules while hiding behind Section 230 for blanket immunity from their actions. https://t.co/fWhSKkvZDU
— Ashley Hinson (@RepAshleyHinson) January 12, 2021
The legislation Hinson cosponsored would amend Section 230 so that Big Tech companies can no longer enjoy protection from the federal government without adhering to the First Amendment’s spirit. Put simply, if this bill is implemented, Big Tech platforms would no longer be able to censor conservative content without consequences. No more blanket immunity as Mark Zuckerberg, Jack Dorsey, and others decide what counts as free speech and what does not. Another important note: they would also be liable for any dangerous or explicit content harming minors on their platforms, as they should be.
This isn’t right. pic.twitter.com/r0zBcfEGvV
— Ashley Hinson (@RepAshleyHinson) January 9, 2021
Section 230 was signed into law in 1996—this law was written for a different time online. But that hasn’t stopped Big Tech from hiding behind Section 230 and taking advantage of it for as long as possible. The legislation Hinson is helping steer through Congress is a logical solution to finally hold these platforms accountable for selectively censoring conservative content and protecting the First Amendment in the 21st-century domain
