Facebook to take down content that poses legal threat

Facebook has recently announced that it will take down content that could result in regulatory or legal headaches for the company.

The social media platform started issuing warnings to its users about an update to its terms and conditions w.e.f 1st October 2020. The news rules will allow the company to take down posts that pose a threat to it.

Facebook did not give any explicit reason behind taking this step but people are assuming it to be connected to a threat posed by the Trump administration.

On May 28, two days after Twitter fact-checked two of his tweets, President Trump signed an executive order targeting social media companies. The order threatens some of the protections internet platforms are granted under an area of US communications law called Section 23. The legislation essentially means platforms like Facebook and Twitter are not liable for any criminal content posted by users, and that the companies are able to moderate their own platforms.

Also Read: Supreme Court gives 10 years to telecom companies for clearing their dues

Trump's executive order — which is already facing two legal challenges arguing it breaks the First Amendment — calls for tech companies to lose their Section 230 protection if they are shown to "discriminate" against users. Trump has repeatedly accused social
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has also said he thinks Section 230 should be revoked, but for different reasons. Biden thinks companies like Facebook should be more accountable for misinformation that spreads on their platforms.

Facebook is under considerable scrutiny about the way it regulates content posted to its platform.

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