SECTION 230: Repeal it

I watched the Senate hearing with five big tech CEOs. Of the five, only two showed up voluntarily, the others had to be subpoenaed. The CEOs were from Discord, Snap, TikTok, X and Meta. I had never heard of some of these, but your children know them. If you have the time, I encourage you to watch it.

Title 47, Section 230 was enacted in 1996. This protects these companies from lawsuits over their content. Thirty years ago this was enacted, who back then had any idea what these platforms would lead to and their popularity for children.

In the gallery were many parents with pictures of their dead children, who blame these companies for contributing to their deaths. They are left powerless from taking any legal action against the companies, because of Section 230.

There are five bills that are to be voted on to repeal Section 230 and make the companies liable for the sale of drugs, pornography, bullying and a host of other content that targets children. As one senator said, until you open up the court system to allow them to be prosecuted for their actions, nothing will change.

Look what happened with Boeing recently. One door flew open, no one was killed, yet the government grounded all their planes. Thousands of children have been harmed or killed by these companies, yet the government is powerless to do anything because of Section 230.

I urge all of you to contact your senators to vote for these five new bills to repeal Section 230, unless you do not care about your children or grandchildren.

GEORGE SILVA

Coeur d’Alene