May 25, 2021 - Technology
Scoop: E&C leader talks tech reform with Facebook, Google, Twitter
Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
The leader of a key House committee discussed legislative proposals on reining in Big Tech content moderation practices with Facebook, Google, Twitter and others Monday, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Lawmakers are working toward making good on their promise to pass new laws to curb tech's power.
What happened: House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and other Democrats on the committee met with the companies, civil rights and public interest groups to discuss tech legislation with a focus on protecting marginalized communities, a Democratic aide told Axios.
- One of the proposals up for discussion was a bill from Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) called the Civil Rights Modernization Act, which would amend online liability shield Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act so that civil rights laws apply to targeted advertising.