It’s super confusing and a little unclear as to what Trump actually believed his executive order on social media companies could actually legally do. But on Thursday, the belligerent President confirmed that he indeed signed an executive that otherwise would attempt to legally limit the protections that social media companies enjoy.
Famously, a law from 1996 actually makes it nearly impossible for a social media company (not a publisher, i.e a blog) to be sued for something somebody posted. However, Trump apparently wants to change that after being hit by Twitter with the now famously-present fact-check button on some of his tweets.
Part of the order wildly reads:
“Twitter now selectively decides to place a warning label on certain tweets in a manner that clearly reflects political bias,” the order reads. “Twitter seems never to have placed such a label on another politician’s tweet. As recently as last week, Representative Adam Schiff was continuing to mislead his followers by peddling the long-disproved Russian Collusion Hoax, and Twitter did not flag those tweets. Unsurprisingly, its officer in charge of so-called ‘Site Integrity’ has flaunted his political bias in his own tweets.”
In response to the order, Twitter has released a statement according to multiple media reports.
This EO is a reactionary and politicized approach to a landmark law. #Section230 protects American innovation and freedom of expression, and it’s underpinned by democratic values. Attempts to unilaterally erode it threaten the future of online speech and Internet freedoms.”
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