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Sen. Josh Hawley readying broadside against big tech’s ad business, legal shield
- aspenmayer 6y ago> Republican Sen. Josh Hawley is preparing legislation that could require major online platforms like Google and Facebook to stop selling certain targeted ads to keep key legal protections, according to an individual familiar with the plan that would strike the heart of industry giants' business. > The individual told POLITICO the proposal would make industry protections under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act — a 1996 law that shields online businesses from lawsuits over user content — contingent for some platforms on not allowing advertisers to target users based on behavioral data, which includes information such as web-browsing history and online activity. > It’s the latest GOP-led plan to target Section 230, which has come under fire from President Donald Trump, his allies and a loose coalition of lawmakers. Trump has called for the legal shield to be “revoked” over GOP allegations that social media companies stifle conservative viewpoints, and last month he asked federal regulators to reinterpret that law to limit its scope. Original title lacked context; Josh Hawley is a US Senator (R-MO). Original title was: Josh Hawley readying broadside against big tech’s ad business, legal shield