Social Media Must be Held Accountable

Context: US’s threat to strip away the protection offered by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, to internet companies, limits their freedom of speech and accountability.

Protection Offered by Section 230 to Internet Companies

• Not to be treated as publishers of user-generated content.

• Right to moderate user-generated content to suit their policy on decency and hate speech, without being sued for violation of freedom of expression. 

Rights and Responsibilities of Social Media 

• Higher accountability with no room for errors of judgment.
• Social media content generated by or/and on users must be stored on servers located in the country of the user.
• Obligation to remove mala fide content within a reasonable time frame as and when informed.
• Social media companies must comply with country-specific laws.
• Protection against defamation charges (like traditional media) for publishing content in the public interest.

Conclusion: Social media should be given the same protection and accountability as having been accorded to traditional media.