Originally Appeared: Story Partners on September 17, 2021
Twenty-five years ago, Congress passed a piece of legislation which made little if any splash. As policy areas such as content moderation, privacy, and online safety drifted into the mainstream conversation here in Washington, this legislation—Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act—came to be recognized for what it is: the legislation which created the modern internet industry. Unfortunately, in the same ways that 230 is now widely discussed and widely utilized, it is also widely misunderstood. At its core, this law makes the best of the internet possible by enabling companies of all shapes and sizes to create enjoyable spaces online. However, DC seems to have lost sight not only of the original purpose of 230, but what exactly we are seeking to resolve with a renewed evaluation of it.
Although most frequently associated with social media, 230 has applications which span the entire width of the internet and well beyond…
