A former secretary of State and failed presidential candidate is calling for increased regulation of social media platforms, citing concerns over the impact of unmoderated online content.

In a recent television appearance, Hillary Clinton advocated for the repeal of statutory immunity for social media platforms, suggesting that without such action, control over messaging and online content would be lost, as Breitbart reports.

Clinton's Appearance on CNN's "Smerconish"

On Saturday, Hillary Clinton featured on CNN's Smerconish, where she expressed her concerns about the state of social media regulation in the United States.

Her message was clear: without stricter oversight, the risk of allowing harmful content to circulate unrestrained is too great. Clinton underscored the potential dangers by stating, "We lose total control if social media content is not more regulated."

During the broadcast, Clinton emphasized the national urgency required to confront the ongoing threats posed by unregulated digital environments.

She argued that the current legislative framework is inadequate, pointing to the apparent dysfunction within Congress that has hindered action on this front. Her call to address these issues was both critical and immediate, urging, “We need national action and sadly, our Congress has been dysfunctional when it comes to addressing these threats to our children.”

Clinton took aim particularly at Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. This legislation grants immunity to online platforms from liability for content posted by users.

Root of the Issue: Section 230

The former secretary of State proposed that the immunity granted by Section 230 was based on “an overly simple view.” Originally, platforms were seen as neutral conduits for content; however, Clinton challenged this notion by arguing that they bear greater responsibility in moderating what is shared.

She suggested, “We should be, in my view, repealing something called Section 230, which gave platforms on the internet immunity because they were thought to be just pass-throughs... But we now know that that was an overly simple view.”

Clinton articulated fears that the lack of regulation leads to real-world damage, including exposure to child pornography and violent threats. She strongly proposed that the way forward involves removing this immunity and implementing “guardrails” to bolster digital safety. Her assertion was definitive: “Remove the immunity from liability and we need to have guardrails, we need regulation.”

Impact on Children and Schools

Clinton's concerns were not limited to the digital sphere alone. One key aspect of her discussion was the impact of social media on children. She highlighted that the unregulated content online has severe implications, particularly for younger individuals. Her views were sharp, stressing that "it's not just the social and psychological effects it's real harm, it’s child porn and threats of violence, things that are terribly dangerous."

She pointed out that society has been engaged in a “big experiment on ourselves and particularly our kids” through the unchecked evolution of social media. The evidence, she argued, is now unmistakably clear. To mitigate these risks in educational settings, Clinton also endorsed initiatives like collecting students’ phones at the entrance of schools to reduce distractions and potential exposure to harmful content.

The former first lady expressed hope seeing schools adopting these protective measures, saying, “Take phones out of schools. I’m so happy to see schools beginning to do that where kids turn their phone in when they walk in the door.”

Call for Action

Clinton's overall message was one of urgency and her belief in the need for change. She encouraged national action, and her critique on Congress aimed to inspire legislative bodies to take decisive steps toward reforming digital content regulation. Her focus on children as the most affected group heightened the call for immediate and effective interventions.

The conversation touched on the responsibility that platforms should shoulder in moderating and monitoring digital content thoroughly. Clinton's arguments centered on the vital need for oversight to prevent the dissemination of what she said was dangerous material, pointing out that without such supervision, consequences could endanger society at large.

Through her statements, Clinton hopes to galvanize a movement that reinforces accountability among social media companies while simultaneously ensuring the protection of vulnerable populations from online threats.

In conclusion, Hillary Clinton’s interview spotlighted critical concerns about the state of social media regulation. By challenging the provisions of Section 230, she underscored her belief in a need for urgent reform.

She said that the protection of children from harmful online content remained at the forefront of her advocacy, emphasizing the necessary steps the nation must take to address this growing problem.

Her call to action extends to national stakeholders, urging them to overcome legislative inaction and secure safer digital environments for all, though critics believe she is simply interested in concentrating liberal control over online messaging.