Technology

Is William Barr's Latest Attack On Section 230 Simply An Effort To Harm Tech Companies For Blocking His Desire To Kill Encryption?

4 years ago

Anonymous $-riAjkQg_1

https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20200127/11491043807/is-william-barrs-latest-attack-section-230-simply-effort-to-harm-tech-companies-blocking-his-desire-to-kill-encryption.shtml

Last month, we noted that Attorney General William Barr was making a bizarre attack on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, claiming that the DOJ was "studying Section 230 and its scope" and arguing -- without evidence -- that 230 might be contributing to "unlawful behavior" online. As we noted at the time, Section 230 explicitly exempts federal criminal charges from what it applies to, meaning that it literally cannot interfere with any DOJ prosecution. So it's truly bizarre to see the DOJ concerned about the issue.
But Barr has continued to push forward with this anti-230 kick, and is going to host a "workshop" about 230 in a few weeks.

Is William Barr's Latest Attack On Section 230 Simply An Effort To Harm Tech Companies For Blocking His Desire To Kill Encryption?

Jan 28, 2020, 8:20pm UTC

$-riAjkQg_1

https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20200127/11491043807/is-william-barrs-latest-attack-section-230-simply-effort-to-harm-tech-companies-blocking-his-desire-to-kill-encryption.shtml > Last month, we noted that Attorney General William Barr was making a bizarre attack on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, claiming that the DOJ was "studying Section 230 and its scope" and arguing -- without evidence -- that 230 might be contributing to "unlawful behavior" online. As we noted at the time, Section 230 explicitly exempts federal criminal charges from what it applies to, meaning that it literally cannot interfere with any DOJ prosecution. So it's truly bizarre to see the DOJ concerned about the issue. > But Barr has continued to push forward with this anti-230 kick, and is going to host a "workshop" about 230 in a few weeks.