Discussion Group 3: Should Government Regulate Big Tech?

The topic for the February 18, 2021 Discussion Group 3 session is “Should Government Regulate Big Tech?” “Big Tech” includes internet platforms and search engines such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, Microsoft, YouTube, Parler, and so forth.  Issues to be considered include (but are not limited to):

• Should government regulate Big Tech platforms with regard to the content that users post on them? What principles would guide any such regulation? What is “Section 230,” and should government use it as a pressure tactic to control Big Tech? What would be the effect of eliminating Section 230 immunity? To what extent is any of this consistent or inconsistent with the First Amendment?
• Do internet platforms have a First Amendment right to de-platform users who violate their policies? Do they have a First Amendment right to delete or attach warnings to users’ individual posts?
• Should government exercise any control over the algorithms of internet search engines such as Google or Bing? Would this be consistent with the First Amendment?
•  Should antitrust law be used against Big Tech companies?

References (not required reading):

• ·       Wikipedia, “Section 230”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_230
• ·       "Marjorie Taylor Greene Lays into Twitter after Lockout for Election Fraud Claims,” Politico, January 18, 2021: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/18/marjorie-taylor-greene-twitter-lockout-460187
• ·       Elliot Harmon, “It’s Not Section 230 President Trump Hates: It’s the First Amendment,” EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation), December 9, 2020: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/12/its-not-section-230-president-trump-hates-its-first-amendment
• ·       [FOR A DEEP DIVE] Note, “Section 230 as First Amendment Rule,” 131 Harvard Law Review 2027, May 10, 2018: https://harvardlawreview.org/2018/05/section-230-as-first-amendment-rule/

PFC Monthly discussion groups are open to all - if the topic interests you, you'll be welcome! Discussion is moderated but informal - speak up as much or little as you wish.

This is our 3rd monthly discussion group. As usual, we will post the discussion topics in advance. Please feel free to submit discussion topics to: info@pghfreethought.org

RSVP to receive the meeting link.