President Trump has signed an Executive Order on Preventing Online Censorship (EO) targeting censorship on social media platforms. The EO calls for regulations to remove the liability shield currently enjoyed by “providers of interactive computer services.” Specifically, within 60 days, the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), in consultation with the Attorney General, are required to file a petition for rulemaking with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to clarify the language within Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The EO also calls for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to prohibit social media companies from engaging in “deceptive acts or practices.”
