Frances Haugen to Discuss Section 230 Reform with Congress

Facebook Whistleblower to Testify on Section 230

Frances Haugen, a former Facebook employee who became a whistleblower, is scheduled to appear before Congress once more. This time, her testimony will focus on the company’s shortcomings in content moderation and policy implementation. She will specifically address these issues in relation to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

Section 230 is a crucial legal provision that currently shields online platforms from legal responsibility for content created and shared by their users.

Upcoming House Hearing Details

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology will conduct the hearing. It is titled “Holding Big Tech Accountable: Targeted Reforms to Tech’s Legal Immunity” and will take place this Wednesday, December 1st, at 10:30 a.m. EST.

Alongside Haugen, Rashad Robinson, President of Color of Change, and James Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media, are also expected to provide testimony.

Continued Scrutiny of Section 230

This hearing represents the latest in a series of discussions centered around Section 230 within the House committee. Earlier this year, in March, the CEOs of Facebook, Google, and Twitter were called upon to defend their efforts in combating misinformation and disinformation.

These concerns have prompted Democratic lawmakers to reconsider the long-standing legal protections afforded to technology companies.

Haugen’s Perspective on Algorithmic Accountability

During a Senate hearing in October, Haugen advocated for modifications to Section 230. Her proposal would establish accountability for platforms regarding content that is promoted through their algorithms.

While not a legislative expert, Haugen’s experience with Facebook’s former civic integrity team provides her with unique insights into the detrimental societal effects of algorithmically amplified content.

The Role of Algorithms in Content Prioritization

Haugen emphasized the distinction between user-generated content and algorithmic choices. “Companies have less control over user-generated content,” she stated. “However, they exert 100% control over their algorithms.”

She argued that Facebook should not be exempt from responsibility for decisions that prioritize growth, virality, and user engagement at the expense of public safety.

Mosseri to Address Mental Health Concerns

Adam Mosseri, Facebook’s former News Feed lead and current Head of Instagram, is also preparing to testify before the Senate next week. His testimony will address revelations from leaked documents.

These documents indicate that the company is aware of the negative impact its platform can have on the mental well-being of young and vulnerable users.

Proposed Tech Reform Bills

The House Energy and Commerce committee highlighted four tech reform bills currently under consideration by Congress. These include the Justice Against Malicious Algorithms Act of 2021, the SAFE TECH Act, the Civil Rights Modernization Act of 2021, and the Protecting Americans from Dangerous Algorithms Act.

The Justice Against Malicious Algorithms Act of 2021, proposed by the committee hosting Wednesday’s hearing, seeks to remove Section 230’s liability protections in instances where a platform “knowingly or recklessly” recommends harmful content via algorithms.