General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Why would Democrats be so adamant about not repealing 230/setting up election commission? [View all]BarackTheVote
(938 posts)230 protects the website hosting the post. Youre generally protected as an individual because youre a small fry, an insignificant voice in an ocean of voices. Facebook and YouTube are huge targets with deep pockets.
Right now, a comment section or social media platform are basically considered public squares; they are forums in which people can voice their opinions, and the people whose opinions they are are solely responsible for what they say. If Facebook, Twitter, Insta, your grandmas knitting website, were held liable for what users say, then it would be too risky for them to host user-generated content, period. Its not unlikely they could and would potentially be hit thousands of times a day by lawsuits both meritorious and frivolous, but lawsuits that theyd have to respond to regardless.
It would end the internet as we know it. Hundreds of thousands of people who monetize their user content would be out of work. Comment sections and message boards would disappear. The social media giants would disappear, taking all your pictures, contacts, and posts with them.
Repealing 230 would be bad.