Jasmine McNealy, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications associate director of the Marion B. Brechner First Amendment Project and Telecommunication associate professor, was interviewed in “Trump Social Media Ban Will Feature in Future Antitrust Hearing, Says Tech Policy Expert” posted on CNBC.com on Jan. 13.

McNealy speaks about Section 230 of the U.S. Communications Decency Act that was originally created in 1996. It protects tech companies from becoming legally liable for their users’ content and allows them to take down violent content if needed.

According to McNealy, “It started as way for organizations to take action related to false speech and violent speech on these platforms. It has grown and is something that is way more broad than the original folks ever could have imagined.”

She adds, “It’s not an absolute in any manner, but I certainly see that an incoming Democratic controlled Congress putting Section 230 up for debate. It would be a very difficult thing to amend and could harm the other processes and the other kinds of companies and communities who have grown up and been allowed to express themselves and expand on social media and media in general because of section 230.”

Posted: January 14, 2021
Category: College News, Marion B. Brechner First Amendment Project News
Tagged as: Jasmine McNealy, Marion B. Brechner First Amendment Project