On Thursday evening, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill that could lead to major changes in the way technology companies censor posts and conduct speech policing.
The bill, which was proposed by House Republicans, seeks to make it easier for companies to delete content that is considered offensive or otherwise objectionable. The bill, titled the Online Censorship and Discourse Protection Act, seeks to limit what tech companies can remove from their platforms, including posts regarding political issues or religious beliefs.
The bill passed with a vote of 222 to 189, with the vast majority of Republicans voting in favor. Democrats staunchly opposed the measure, with several pointing out that it could lead to censorship of artists and other creative types.
At its heart, the bill would require tech companies to disclose the criteria they use to determine whether content should be posted or removed from their platforms. In addition, the bill would give users the ability to dispute a tech company’s decision to take down a post, and to sue the company in the event of a denial.
The problem with the bill, however, is that it fails to address some of the more pressing issues currently facing tech companies. For instance, many of these companies are struggling to stem the tide of hate speech and disinformation on their platforms. Similarly, these companies are struggling to find ways to combat harassment and kind of online abuse which target minorities and vulnerable groups.
In its current form, the bill would do little to help tech companies address these issues. Indeed, some argue that the bill could have a negative impact on these efforts as it could create a chilling effect on the removal of troubling and oftentimes illegal content.
Ultimately, the Online Censorship and Discourse Protection Act is nothing more than a misguided attempt to regulate tech companies — one that fails to adequately address the pressing issues that these firms currently face. The bill is a danger to free speech, and it should be opposed.
