VOA科学技术2023--Section 230: Rule that Shapes the Internet

Section 230: Rule that Shapes the Internet

Twenty-six words were included in what is known as Section 230 of the 1996 law setting telecommunication¹ policies in the United States.

Those words have enabled companies like Facebook, Twitter and Google to grow into the giant technology companies they are today.

This week, the U.S. Supreme² Court is hearing challenges to the law on whether those companies are responsible for what users posted on their services.

In Gonzalez v. Google, the justices will decide whether the family of an American college student killed in a terror attack in Paris can sue Google, which owns YouTube. The family claims the video service's algorithm helped extremists spread their message.

The second case, Twitter v. Taamneh, also centers on legal responsibility. It involves a Jordanian citizen killed in Istanbul, Turkiye.

The results of these cases could reshape the internet as we know it. Section 230 will not be easily changed. But if it is, online speech could be greatly changed.

What is section 230?

If a news organization or website falsely accuses you of harmful things, you can take legal action against the publisher for libel. Libel is a published false statement about someone and is a crime.

But if someone posts a libelous³ statement on Facebook, you cannot sue Facebook. You can only sue the person who posted it.

In this case, Facebook is protected under Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency⁴ Act. The law says that "no provider or user of an interactive⁵ computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider."

That legal statement protects companies that can host trillions of messages from being sued by anyone who feels wronged by something someone else has posted.

Section 230 also permits social media services to moderate their services. They can remove posts that, for example, are obscene or violate the services' standards.

The measure's history dates to the 1950s. At the time, bookstore owners were being held legally responsible for selling books containing "obscenity," which is not protected by the First Amendment⁶. One case made it to the Supreme Court, which ruled that it created a "chilling effect" to hold someone responsible for someone else's content.

Now, lawmakers from both Republican and Democratic parties have argued that social media websites have misused⁷ that protection and should lose it. Some argue that the companies should have to meet requirements set by the government.

What happens if Section 230 goes away?

Eric Goldman is a professor at Santa Clara University specializing in internet law. He said the main thing people do on the internet is to communicate with each other. And a lot of that communication is made possible by Section 230. The law says that tech companies that permit people to communicate are not responsible for the discussions, he said.

Goldman said that if protections for services permitting people to communicate are removed "they won't allow us to talk to each other anymore."

There are two possible results.

Services might be more careful with content. For example, in 2018, a law was passed that created an exception to Section 230 for material that helps with sex work. The advertising⁸ service Craigslist removed its "personals" area that was taken over by those who used it for sex work.

Another possibility is that Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and others could stop moderating materials on their services altogether. However, the unmoderated services could easily end up with a lot of harmful content.

Any change to Section 230 is likely to have strong effects on online speech around the world.

Goldman noted⁹ that the rest of the world is taking measures against internet companies faster than the U.S. "So we're a step behind the rest of the world in terms of censoring¹⁰ the internet. And the question is whether we can even hold out on our own."

Words in This Story

challenge — v. to say or show that may not be true, correct, or legal

sue — v. to use a legal process by which you try to get a court of law to force a person, company, or organization that has treated you unfairly or hurt you in some way to give you something or to do something

algorithm — n. a set of steps that are followed in order to solve a mathematical problem or to complete a computer process

libel — n. the act of publishing a false statement that causes people to have a bad opinion of someone

interactive — adj. designed to respond to the actions, commands, etc., of a user

obscene — adj. very offensive in usually a shocking way

chilling— adj. very disturbing or frightening

allow — v. to permit

censor¹¹ — v. a person who examines books, movies, letters, etc., and removes things that are considered to be offensive, immoral¹², harmful to society, etc.

1 telecommunication   

n.电信，远距离通信

参考例句：

• Telecommunication is an industry of service.电信业是一个服务型的行业。
• I only care about the telecommunication quality and the charge.我只关心通信质量和资费两个方面。

2 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

3 libelous   

adj.败坏名誉的，诽谤性的

参考例句：

• No evidence has been found in the case so far and therefore it is probably a libelous suit.查无实据，恐怕是诬告。
• The book was libelous,so the publishers had to call in all copies of it from the bookshops.这是一本诽谤性的书，所以出版商必须把店里的书全收回去。

4 decency   

n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重

参考例句：

• His sense of decency and fair play made him refuse the offer.他的正直感和公平竞争意识使他拒绝了这一提议。
• Your behaviour is an affront to public decency.你的行为有伤风化。

5 interactive   

adj.相互作用的，互相影响的，（电脑）交互的

参考例句：

• The psychotherapy is carried out in small interactive groups.这种心理治疗是在互动的小组之间进行的。
• This will make videogames more interactive than ever.这将使电子游戏的互动性更胜以往。

6 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

7 misused   

v.使用…不当( misuse的过去式和过去分词 )；把…派作不正当的用途；虐待；滥用

参考例句：

• He misused his dog shamefully. 他可耻地虐待自己的狗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He had grossly misused his power. 他严重滥用职权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

9 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

10 censoring   

删剪（书籍、电影等中被认为犯忌、违反道德或政治上危险的内容）( censor的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Therefore, exhibitors shall not make use of these materials before censoring. 展商在审查前不可使用这些资料。
• The company then said it would end self-censoring search results, putting it at odds with Beijing. 随后该公司表示，将停止自我审查搜索结果，从而与中国政府发生对抗。

11 censor   

n./vt.审查，审查员；删改

参考例句：

• The film has not been viewed by the censor.这部影片还未经审查人员审查。
• The play was banned by the censor.该剧本被查禁了。

12 immoral   

adj.不道德的，淫荡的，荒淫的，有伤风化的

参考例句：

• She was questioned about his immoral conduct toward her.她被询问过有关他对她的不道德行为的情况。
• It is my belief that nuclear weapons are immoral.我相信使核武器是不邪恶的。