WASHINGTON – The U.S Senate held a virtual hearing discussing the reformation of Section 230,  a law that protects companies from being held liable for what it’s users post. The lawmakers were split when trying to decide if companies should be held liable or not. At hearing, there were also three major technology CEOs representing Facebook, Twitter, and Alphabet Inc’s Google. These CEOs were being questioned about their use of censorship on their apps.  Republican lawmakers argued that these companies were being selective while censoring when it came to posts and content with conservative leanings by users. In rebuttal, these chief executives of these companies said that it is imperative for people to be able to practice freedom of speech and Section 230 helps create a “balance” between censorship and people’s first amendment rights.

  Senator Ted Cruz did have choice words for Mr. Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Twitter. The CEO stated that his platform would not affect the election but Ted begs to differ. He said their company has blocked the New York Posts’ article on Democratic Presidential lead Joe Biden’s son, Bo Biden.  “Who the hell elected you and put you in charge of what the media are allowed to report and what the American people are allowed to hear?” said Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas)

As the hearing continued, some lawmakers started to say the hearing was “nonsense”, and was only for bullying for electoral purposes. Towards the end of the hearing, it was beginning to be known that tech companies have had too many ‘free passes’ and reform needs to come soon.

(Compiled by Za’Nia Harris from Reuters, original reporting by Nandita Bose and David Shepardson)