Opening the Spigot
Bloomberg Businessweek|May 30 - June 06, 2022 (Double Issue)
Conservatives want to limit social media companies’ power to control content
Maxwell Adler
Opening the Spigot

The right-wing crusade to punish social media companies for supposedly discriminating against their conservative users is reaching a major inflection point, with the US Supreme Court weighing whether to temporarily block a Texas law regulating how the companies can moderate the content on their services. If it ultimately stands up, the law would represent a fundamental shift in how the US legal system interprets the First Amendment. It would also rewrite the rules of the modern internet.

The legal battle emerges from the intensifying dispute over the role of tech in American political and cultural life. Last year lawmakers in Texas and Florida passed similar bills attempting to limit the ability of web services to ban users or remove content they say violates their standards, saying companies apply their rules unfairly.

Historically, the right of private companies to act in this way has not been in question. Although the First Amendment prohibits censorship by the government, it does nothing to restrict the actions of private companies. In fact, the right of news papers, book publishers, and other media outlets to decide what to disseminate—or not to disseminate—has generally been considered a critical aspect of free speech law.

Internet companies have further protection to make decisions on content moderation under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, which guards them from lawsuits related to user-generated content, even if they make editorial decisions about what kinds of posts they allow.

Esta historia es de la edición May 30 - June 06, 2022 (Double Issue) de Bloomberg Businessweek.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición May 30 - June 06, 2022 (Double Issue) de Bloomberg Businessweek.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEKVer todo
Instagram's Founders Say It's Time for a New Social App
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Instagram's Founders Say It's Time for a New Social App

The rise of AI and the fall of Twitter could create opportunities for upstarts

time-read
4 minutos  |
March 13, 2023
Running in Circles
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Running in Circles

A subscription running shoe program aims to fight footwear waste

time-read
3 minutos  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
What I Learned Working at a Hawaiien Mega-Resort
Bloomberg Businessweek US

What I Learned Working at a Hawaiien Mega-Resort

Nine wild secrets from the staff at Turtle Bay, who have to manage everyone from haughty honeymooners to go-go-dancing golfers.

time-read
10 minutos  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
How Noma Will Blossom In Kyoto
Bloomberg Businessweek US

How Noma Will Blossom In Kyoto

The best restaurant in the world just began its second pop-up in Japan. Here's what's cooking

time-read
3 minutos  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
The Last-Mover Problem
Bloomberg Businessweek US

The Last-Mover Problem

A startup called Sennder is trying to bring an extremely tech-resistant industry into the age of apps

time-read
10+ minutos  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
Tick Tock, TikTok
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Tick Tock, TikTok

The US thinks the Chinese-owned social media app is a major national security risk. TikTok is running out of ways to avoid a ban

time-read
10+ minutos  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
Cleaner Clothing Dye, Made From Bacteria
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Cleaner Clothing Dye, Made From Bacteria

A UK company produces colors with less water than conventional methods and no toxic chemicals

time-read
3 minutos  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
Pumping Heat in Hamburg
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Pumping Heat in Hamburg

The German port city plans to store hot water underground and bring it up to heat homes in the winter

time-read
3 minutos  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
Sustainability: Calamari's Climate Edge
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Sustainability: Calamari's Climate Edge

Squid's ability to flourish in warmer waters makes it fitting for a diet for the changing environment

time-read
4 minutos  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
New Money, New Problems
Bloomberg Businessweek US

New Money, New Problems

In Naples, an influx of wealthy is displacing out-of-towners lower-income workers

time-read
4 minutos  |
March 20 - 27, 2023