Section 230 reform gains momentum as legal and political pressure mounts

The news: A bipartisan coalition of US senators led by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is introducing legislation that would set an expiration date of January 1, 2027, for Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

• Since its passage in 1996, Section 230 has shielded online platforms from liability for third-party content, but lawmakers from both parties now argue the law is outdated. Democrats want stricter content moderation to curb misinformation and harmful material, while Republicans claim it allows political censorship by tech companies.

The bill coincides with President Trump’s appointment of Brendan Carr as FCC Chair, who has indicated that the agency could reinterpret Section 230 even without congressional action.