Here we go again.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R–Ky.) today acquiesced to demands from President Donald Trump, a majority of congressional Democrats, and some congressional Republicans to greenlight a bill giving $2,000 COVID-19 relief checks to Americans under a designated income threshold. But there’s a catch: McConnell’s legislation would also eliminate Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. JUST IN: McConnell introduces bill that offers $2000 direct-payments, repeals section 230 (immunity for social media companies), and commissions an election fraud study. Sean Langille (@SeanLangille) December 29,2020 Section 230 essentially functions as the internet’s First Amendment, by protecting private companies from being held liable for most forms of user-generated content. This is the second time in very recent history that lawmakers have sought to sneak Section 230 changes into legislation that otherwise has nothing to do with Section 230. Earlier this month, Trump vetoed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) because it contained no clause repealing Section 230. Sen. Roger Wicker (R–Miss.) reportedly tried to achieve Trump’s aim by inserting such language into the legislation; the effort failed, and yesterday Congress overrode Trump’s veto.
