Subcommittee Chair Latta at Legislative Hearing on Sunsetting Section 230

the chair recognizes himself for an opening statement good morning and welcome to today's legislative hearing to discuss sunsetting section 230 of the communications decency act since 1996 section 230 protections have allowed the US tech industry to flourish This legal framework emboden Americans to Pioneer creating internet and social media platforms promote Innovation user content and social media interaction in its intent was to provide online platforms immunity from liability for content posted by third-party users as the internet exploded and growth it also increased challenges that were not contemplated when the law passed in 1996 section 230 must be reformed as we heard in our last hearing on this topic the current online ecosystem is flawed many of these platforms are r with content such as online self self sex trafficking narcotics child pornography and other ilicit crimes in response big Tech platforms hide behind section 230's broad immunity in that process courts have rewarded their destructive Behavior we need to reform section 230 to hold platforms accountable for the role they play in facilitating and enabling harmful Behavior but in doing so Congress must be thoughtful and deliberative there is no Silver Bullet to fix this issue some argue that amending or repealing section 230 violates the first Amendment rights of those platforms to host the content they so choose yet no industry has complete protection from all liability for harm it causes newspapers broadcasters fundamental mediums that exemplify our first amendment rights are subject to publisher liability or can be sued for defamation not big Tech over the past several congresses there have been numerous proposals to hold big Tech accountable for when it acts as a publisher in moderating content on its platforms but to no avail which is why today we are reviewing a discussion draft that will sunset section 230 of the communications Act of 1934 effect of December 31st 2025 I hope this legislation will bring people together including those who support oppose or interested to carefully discuss section 230 reforms one thing is certain big Tech Behavior has brought Republicans and Democrats together on a commitment to find a long-term solution to reform section 230 Congress has a monumental task ahead but we must reform the law in a way that will protect Innovation proot promote free speech and allow big Tech to moderate indecent and illegal content on its platforms and be accountable to the American people I look forward to our discussion today into working with my colleagues on a broader discussion about purposeful reforms of section 230 it's up to congress not the courts to reform section 230 and Chang of this law are long overdue and with that I will yield back the balance of my time and before I do recognize the ranking member of the sub commit