Day Two: The Present, or the Era of Public Health

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In the era of public health, we have become cognizant of the tangible effects of platforms’ policy decisions. By the 2010s, users expectations had changed. In the wake of growing awareness of online harassment and hate speech, sites like Twitter with blanket refusals to police users’ content went from internet heroes to internet villains. As Kate Klonick demonstrates, platforms responded by increasing their moderation out of a fear of losing users. Furthermore, states have stepped in. In the past year, we have seen significant new legislation rooted in the “public health” framework that attempts to scale back platforms’ Section 230 immunity. Motivated by a desire to cut down on illegal sex trafficking, FOSTA-SESTA has produced increased pressure for platforms to delete content.

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