It’s Time to Verify the Internet

Twitter’s new Birdwatch feature is a good step, but more needs to be done.

(Photo by Carol Magalhães on Unsplash; Edited by the Author)

Harmful language, violent rhetoric, and misinformation are all too common on social media websites. A 2018 study by the Anti-Defamation League asserted 53% of Americans experienced online harassment or hate speech. As violent rhetoric fueled the insurrection at the United States Capitol earlier this month, that percentage is likely higher today.

Social media companies and internet providers have been slow to implement restrictions, primarily due to Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act. This law shields tech companies and internet providers from liability resulting from user-generated content. Essentially, Twitter is not responsible for what users post. As a result, Twitter and its competitors take a slow and systematic approach to addressing hate and harassment accusations on their platforms. This inaction, however, has allowed harmful content to flourish online.

While Section 230 provides liability shields, it does not provide tech companies with a free pass. Social networking sites can be held liable if they knowingly permit illegal content. To comply with this stipulation of the law, companies independently moderate content across their sites. Each network sets its own rules and enforcement tactics…