© Win McNamee/Getty ImagesUS President Trump and Sen. Inhofe
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman James Inhofe has indicated that the current National Defense Authorization Act legislation does not eliminate Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act.
President Trump on Tuesday tweeted that he would veto the defense bill unless it does away with Section 230, which pertains to protection -- a liability shield -- for companies regarding content posted by users. It also relates to issues of content moderation.
The Oklahoma Republican senator indicated that while he shares the president's desire to scrap Section 230, such a move is not included in the current defense bill.
"First of all 230 has nothing to do with the military," Sen. Inhofe said, according to
The Hill.
"And I agree with his sentiments we ought to do away with 230 but you can't do it in this bill. That's not a part of the bill."
Comment: Tulsi Gabbard endorses Trump's elimination of Section 230 shielding Big Tech:
Donald Trump's demand to repeal an old rule shielding tech giants from liability for things users publish has been endorsed by maverick Democrat Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, prompting speculation that her party will disown her again.
Gabbard, whose term representing Hawaii expires in January, voiced her support for President Trump on Twitter. "Please don't back down. The freedom and future of our country is at stake," she wrote on Tuesday, in response to his demand to repeal Section 230.
The piece of legislation was adopted in the 1990s to protect the budding internet sector from lawsuits over things that users publish on their platforms. Because of it, companies like Facebook and Twitter are not treated as publishers that can be held accountable for the content that they provide access to. Critics say the provision has outlived itself, giving undue protection to dangerously powerful corporations.
Open support for a Trump proposal coming from a Democratic party member is a rare thing in the highly polarized American political landscape. Gabbard's breaking of the ranks stirred anger and prompted predictions that she would be "canceled" again.
Gabbard consistently rejects the partisanship divide that many other US politicians currently accept as a fact of life. Just a few days ago, she voiced her support for a Supreme Court decision that temporarily suspended Covid-19 restrictions placed on religious institutions in New York.
Gabbard openly criticized the provision during her primary campaign and in October co-sponsored a bill which would amend Section 230.
Trump doubles down on repealing Section 230 but congresspersons answer back:
"230 has nothing to do with the military," said Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman James Inhofe (R-Okla.). "I agree with his sentiments ... but you can't do it in this bill. That's not a part of the bill."
"I would hope that he would not actually follow through with that because the NDAA is critical," Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said regarding Trump's veto threat over Section 230.
Congressional negotiators began signing a compromise bill between the House and Senate versions, known as a conference report, Wednesday evening without any language on Section 230.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), meanwhile, has said he "cannot support" the NDAA because it doesn't contain Section 230 reforms but does contain language regarding the Confederate-named bases, and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he was supportive of Trump "using all the leverage he can" to reform the tech protection.
However, those voices of support appear to be in the minority, with Republicans in Senate leadership noting that the NDAA must be passed.
"I don't think the defense bill is the place to litigate that," Sen. John Thune (S.D.), the No. 2 Senate Republican, said. "There will be enormous support for getting the defense authorization bill passed and hopefully signed into law."
Tulsi Gabbard is one of the few in Congress that puts the wellbeing of the country ahead of partisan politics.
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Comment: Tulsi Gabbard endorses Trump's elimination of Section 230 shielding Big Tech: Trump doubles down on repealing Section 230 but congresspersons answer back: Tulsi Gabbard is one of the few in Congress that puts the wellbeing of the country ahead of partisan politics.
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