Thread by @AdamThierer

the current debate over #Section230 and online content moderation has been dominated by misinformation, bad reporting, and outright lies. Let’s set the record straight with 10 or so must-reads on the topic …

#1: get yourself a copy of @jkosseff’s “26 Words That Created the Internet,” the definitive early history of #Section230: amazon.com/Twenty-Six-Wor… & @ericgoldman’s “Overview of Sec 230 Immunity” papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cf… [Also see their archive of 230 cases: jeffkosseff.com/resources]

#2: see this joint statement of 7 principles to guide conversations about amending #Section230, crafted by a huge & quite diverse coalition of civil society organizations, academics and other Internet law experts: digitalcommons.law.scu.edu/cgi/viewconten…

#3: see @ellanso’s short primer on “Clearing Up Misinformation about #Section230” cdt.org/blog/clearing-… “Unfortunately, much of this debate is based on misunderstandings, or flat-out inaccurate descriptions, of what the law says and how it operates,” Emma notes correctly.

#4: read this new white paper on “The Erosion of Publisher Liability in American Law, #Section230, and the Future of Online Curation” by @bskorup & @jrhuddles: mercatus.org/publications/r… And then also listen to Jennifer's podcast discussion w @jkosseff: mercatus.org/bridge/podcast…

#5: check out @BerinSzoka’s excellent testimony from last year’s House Judiciary Cmmt hearing on “Platform Responsibility & #Section230 Filtering Practices of Social Media Platforms” docs.techfreedom.org/Szoka_Testimon…

#6: read @daphnehk ’s helpful essay, “Build Your Own Intermediary Liability Law: A Kit for Policy Wonks of All Ages” balkin.blogspot.com/2019/06/build-… #Section230

#7: see this joint letter from 14 conservative groups in support of #Section230, arguing that “government should not be setting speech codes online or undermining free speech.” protectingtaxpayers.org/wp-content/upl…

#8: #Section230 co-authors sound off on threats to the law. Here’s Sen. Ron Wyden: vox.com/recode/2019/5/… & here’s former Rep. Chris Cox: wsj.com/articles/hawle…

#9: read @ericgoldman’s epic takedown of Sen. Josh Hawley’s hugely troubling “Internet Censorship Act” (includes huge bibliography of everything everybody else wrote on it). Hawley’s misguided bill would upend #Section230 and lead to massive litigation.
blog.ericgoldman.org/archives/2019/…

#10: finally, here’s a hotly-worded essay I wrote about Sen. @HawleyMO's awful #Section230 bill over at @TechLiberation blog: “How Conservatives Came to Favor the Fairness Doctrine & Net Neutrality” techliberation.com/2019/06/19/how…

P.S. the readings above clear up legal confusion about #Section230, but if you want to read more about economic impact of the law on innovation & investment, check out this important new report from @mmasnick & @NetChoice:
techdirt.com/articles/20190…