On May 28th local time, the Wall Street Journal reported that US President Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, local time, which is designed to make it easier for federal regulators to pursue such things as Twitter and Facebook The legal liability of social media companies of the same category, provided that they are considered to be improper, such as by suspending accounts or deleting posts to restrict users from speaking.
The order states, “We cannot allow a limited number of online platforms to pick what Americans can access and communicate online. When large, powerful social media companies review them When they disagree, they are exercising dangerous powers. “The scope of the order is very wide, creating multiple ways for the government to attack what the government considers to be online censorship.
Twitter refers to the executive order as “reactionary and politicized.” The company wrote in a statement: “Section 230 of the Communications Regulations Act protects American innovation and freedom of expression and is supported by democratic values. An attempt to unilaterally weaken it threatens the future of online speech and Internet freedom . “
Trump ’s conflict with Twitter intensified on May 26. Trump issued two tweets that day, slamming that California ’s practice of mailing ballots in the November general election will cause widespread fraud. Twitter gives a blue font link beginning with an exclamation mark under each tweet, writing “Understand the facts about mailing ballots.” Click on the link, you can see the announcement titled “Trump’s unfounded claim that mailing ballots will lead to election fraud”, which cites reports from CNN, the Washington Post and other media and many experts Remarks, correct Trump’s statement about mailing ballots.
According to the Washington Post, Twitter said in a statement that Trump ’s tweet contained “potentially misleading information” about the election and was therefore made mark.
Since then, Twitter has also posted fact-checking tags on other people ’s tweets about other topics.
Tagging Trump ’s own tweets caused Trump ’s strong dissatisfaction. He accused Twitter of trying to “interfere” in the election and stepping up supervision of social media platforms .
Trump delivered a speech in the office on Thursday when he was preparing to sign the above-mentioned executive order, accusing Twitter of being “viewing” as an editor, andDescribe the platform’s factual verification of its tweets as “political activism.”
According to the Capitol Hill (theHill) report, when asked whether he considered deleting his account on the platform, considering his recent criticism of Twitter, Rump told reporters: “If we have a fair news report in this country, I will do it immediately.”
Trump said that if he thinks there is no need to fight back “Fake news”, he will get rid of his Twitter account. He also added, “I have nothing to do except delete my entire Twitter account.”
It should be noted that US public opinion believes that Trump issued The action of the executive order is probably not effective because it requires the legislative cooperation of Congress. A large number of lawyers also issued statements on May 28 stating that their practices are contrary to Section 230 of the Communications Regulations Act and have no legal effect. According to the Communications Decency Act of the United States, social media platforms will not be prosecuted for content posted by users.
Trump said: “We are here today to defend freedom of speech from one of the greatest dangers.” He admitted that the order may be challenged in court , But he asked rhetorically: “What won’t it?”
Trump has long expressed his views on internal affairs and diplomacy through Twitter. According to the “Washington Post”, Trump has published more than 18,000 “false or misleading messages” since he became president, of which more than 3,300 were posted on Twitter.
Trump also said that if his lawyer can find a way to legally close Twitter, “I ’ll do it.”
Wednesday local time, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey (Jack Dorsey) defended the company ’s actions, he wrote in a tweet:” We will continue to point out incorrect or controversial elections Information. This will not make us a ‘arbiter of truth.’ “
Facebook also said on Thursday local time that the above-mentioned executive order will” restrict online publication Talk more, not less “, and” will punish companies that choose to allow controversial speech and encourage the platform to review any speech that may offend anyone. “
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg (CNZBC) in a CNBC interview aired early Thursday, support should largely not interfere with the company ’s platform Politician’s post. Zuckerberg said: “I don’t think Facebook or the Internet platform is usually the arbiter of fact. I think it is a dangerous route to determine what is true and what is not.”
Google also criticized the executive order on Thursday. A Google spokesperson said in a statement: “Breaking the Communications Regulations Act in this way will damage the US economy and its global leadership in Internet freedom.”
According to the “Wall Street Journal” evaluation, the order marks the Trump administration’s most aggressive efforts on social media companies. For many years, Trump has threatened to resist the systematic prejudice he and many conservatives think of their political positions on social media. During Thursday’s campaign, his team sent an email to its supporters seeking to raise funds from Trump’s dispute with Twitter.
The US Department of Justice will also convene a working group of the Attorney General to investigate complaints under the order and will instruct federal agencies and companies engaged in speech review to review their advertising contracts.
In view of the legal and regulatory challenges involved, any actions proposed in the executive order may not take effect on social media platforms until a few months later.