Facebook, Google CEOs suggest ways to reform key internet law
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg laid out steps to reform a key internet law on Wednesday, saying that companies should have immunity from liability only if they follow best practices for removing damaging material from their platforms.
The hearing titled ‘Disinformation Nation: Social media’s role in promoting extremism and misinformation’ is designed to address concerns Democrats have had about the spread of misinformation during the coronavirus pandemic and the presidential election.
Google’s Sundar Pichai will make suggestions to reform the law but, unlike Zuckerberg, will not advocate for adoption of a set of best practices, according to his testimony. Twitter’s Jack Dorsey will lay out steps the platform has taken to tackle misinformation.
Zuckerberg and Pichai will also urge caution as Congress considers reforming the law.
“Platforms should not be held liable if a particular piece of content evades its detection -- that would be impractical for platforms with billions of posts per day,” Zuckerberg wrote in his testimony.
Pichai instead proposed solutions such as developing content policies that are clear and accessible, notifying people when their content is removed and giving them ways to appeal content decisions.
