Tech CEOs seek to reform internet law

Ahead of a Thursday hearing on Capitol Hill with top social media CEO’s, Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg argued companies such as his should not be liable for content shared by users - as long as those companies followed best practices.

At stake is what's known as Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

It's a 1996 law limiting the liability of internet platforms for content shared on their sites.

In the text of his opening statement shared Wednesday, Zuckerberg said firms such as Facebook should act to take down harmful posts.

But, he cautioned, "Platforms should not be held liable if a particular piece of content evades its detection -- that would be impractical for platforms with billions of posts per day.”

The hearing is titled "Disinformation Nation: Social media's role in promoting extremism and misinformation."

And Democratic lawmakers are trying to draw attention to the spread of misinformation about the coronavirus pandemic and the 2020 presidential election.

Both Democrats and Republicans see removing the liability shield created by Section 230 as a way to make social media firms change their ways.

The chief executives of Google and Twitter will also testify at the hearing.

Google's Sundar Pichai will likewise defend the law as essential to the free-flow of internet speech.

But Pichai will propose developing content policies that are clear and accessible, notifying people when their content is removed and giving them ways to appeal content decisions.

And Twitter's Jack Dorsey will lay out steps his platform has taken to tackle misinformation.