Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), chair of a House Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, s\is expected to introduce legislation with Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) to revamp Section 230 in order to protect consumer safety online. Their bill would require tech companies maintain clear terms of service and consumer protection policies and would amend Section 230 to clarify that the Federal Trade Commission has authority to oversee and enforce tech companies’ terms of service.
“It would be an unfair and deceptive trade practice under the FTC if the companies did not follow their own terms of service,” Schakowsky said in an interview. “It makes it very clear that Section 230 does not in any way impact the authority of the FTC to hold them accountable.” The bill would also allow consumers to sue if the companies violate their terms of service, something that isn’t likely to gain Republican support.