By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 10-21-20 FCC General Counsel Tom Johnson took to the FCC blog Wednesday (Oct. 21) to defend the conclusion that the FCC has the authority to clarify ambiguities in Sec. 230, including limiting it if the Commission votes to do so. FCC chairman Ajit Pai announced last week the FCC would [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 10-20-20 Top Senate Commerce Committee Republicans have put out a handy guide to understanding Section 230 reform ahead of a hearing Oct. 28 with the CEOs of Facebook, Google, and Twitter and with the goal of determining whether the section has outlived its usefulness. Section 230 is the law that [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 10-20-20 The Justice Department filed its expected antitrust lawsuit against Google Tuesday (Oct. 20), joined by 11 states attorneys general. It called the company an illegal monopoly and vowed to "remedy the competitive harms." The states are Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, South Carolina, and Texas. [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 10-20-20 A pair of House Democrats have introduced a bill that would take a new tack on reforming Section 230, the provision that grants immunity to social platforms for most of the content on their sites, targeting online algorithms they argue facilitate offline violence. Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) and Tom [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 10-20-20 With the Republican-controlled Senate Commerce Committee scheduled to hold hearings with the CEOs of Big Tech giants, House Republicans want the Democrat-controlled Energy & Commerce Committee to do the same. On Oct. 28, Senate Commerce is holding one of those Big Tech hearings whose title gives away the plot: “Does [...]
Celebration Moves Online to Greater Degree During Pandemic FOR RELEASE: October 19, 2020 Contact: Richard T. Kaplar The Media Institute 703-243-5700 Arlington, Va., October 19, 2020 – Free Speech Week (FSW) kicks off Monday, Oct. 19, and will continue through Sunday, Oct. 25. Media groups, schools, universities, and community groups will use this week to [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 10-15-20 FCC chairman Ajit Pai has signaled he plans to follow President Trump's lead and "clarify" Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. He also says he has been assured by FCC lawyers that the FCC has the authority to do so. “As elected officials consider whether to change the [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 10-15-20 Republican FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr said he is not looking for heavy-handed regulation of Big Tech, but he isn't looking for no hands either, including saying there needs to be a guiding hand when it comes to Sec. 230, and from the FCC, FTC, and Justice. In an interview [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 10-14-20 The FCC has committed to helping the developing world develop secure and open networks. The Commission said Wednesday (Oct. 14) that it had signed a memorandum of understanding to that effect with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Specifically, the two agencies have agreed to "promote open, interoperable, [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 10-13-20 Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has weighed in on Sec. 230 and he has clearly signaled he things the High Court should take up the issue of lower court expansion of that online content immunity provision. Thomas took the opportunity of the Supreme Court's refusal to hear the appeal [...]