Steube Reintroduces CASE-IT Act to Hold Big Tech Accountable
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Greg Steube today reintroduced the CASE-IT Act, legislation which would hold Big Tech accountable and promote free speech.
“The American people should all demand equal treatment, especially in the public square,” Steube said. “Our country’s founding and entire system of government prides itself on our ability for citizens to have different views without being suppressed or censored. Through this legislation, we can reform Section 230 and ensure that Big Tech will be held accountable for revoking accounts and selectively censoring conservative content on a partisan basis.”
Last Congress, Steube introduced the Curbing Abuse and Saving Expression in Technology (CASE-IT) Act, which would amend Section 230 in an effort to promote free speech online, while protecting children from dangerous content. This legislation would make Section 230 immunity conditional for market-dominant Big Tech companies – in order to receive the special government protection, these platforms would be required to adhere to a First Amendment standard for their content moderation practices.
Both Twitter and Facebook have indefinitely suspended President Trump’s accounts from their platforms, marking unprecedented censorship measures. In addition, both platforms, as well as Google and Amazon, have removed thousands of conservative users. However, Big Tech did not take similar actions during riots last summer, or even against international bad actors like Iranian Ayatollah Khamenei. Google, Amazon and Apple have all restricted access to Parler in their respective App Stores and on the Cloud, making it nearly impossible to download or access. Parler has been one platform that has repeatedly expressed its commitment to free speech and refused to censor speech online on a partisan basis.
In the past, Steube has called on colleagues to shift their social media presences to the Parler App, while calling for Big Tech accountability and Section 230 reform.
The full text of the legislation can be found here.
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