Sunsetting Section 230 Would Harm Consumers, Businesses

At INCOMPAS, we fundamentally believe in the importance of a vibrant internet ecosystem where companies of all different sizes in multiple industries can compete by offering a diverse array of products and services to consumers. Section 230 is foundational to that principle. However, misguided legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives threatens to put Section 230 — along with the protections it extends to consumers and companies — in jeopardy.

For consumers, Section 230 protects access to a wide range of online information and services, from social media to e-commerce. Critically, Section 230 protects online platforms that host user-generated content from legal risk while still allowing companies to create safe and secure internet spaces that consumers trust. These protections mean that companies are able to house content from different voices and opinions, and over the years, Section 230 has created a diverse digital landscape where users can freely share ideas and content, from educational resources to user-generated listings on online marketplaces.

Additionally, businesses, especially small and emerging companies, rely on Section 230 to innovate and compete. Today, Section 230 provides small businesses with the protection they need to experiment and innovate without fear of extensive legal risk, and the provision is responsible for the success of leading American businesses that provide millions of jobs and contribute trillions of dollars to the U.S. GDP. However, without Section 230 protections, new entrants would be shut out of the marketplace, and competition would stagnate.

Congress is considering new legislation that would sunset the Section 230 protections that consumers and businesses of all sizes currently enjoy. For that reason, INCOMPAS has joined multiple stakeholders and associations to call on Congress to preserve and protect Section 230. Ultimately, Congress should not take steps that would break the internet and unravel the digital economy by ending Section 230.