Feb 24, 2020 - Technology

House Democrat takes aim at tech liability shield over false ads

Kyle Daly

Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) speaks with reporters. — Rep. David Cicilline. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call Inc. via Getty Images

The chair of the House Judiciary antitrust subcommittee is preparing a bill that would remove liability protections from tech platforms that don't take down false political ads, Bloomberg Law reported Monday.

The big picture: Facebook's policy of not fact-checking political ads has angered Democrats, and tinkering with Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which immunizes internet platforms from lawsuits over user-posted material, has become an increasingly popular threat for lawmakers looking to bring Big Tech to heel.

Context: Antitrust panel chairman David Cicilline (D-R.I.) has already been scrutinizing major tech companies through a probe he's leading into competition in the sector.

What's next: Cicilline plans to introduce the bill within roughly the next month, according to the report.

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House Democrat takes aim at tech liability shield over false ads

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