"Social Media Accountability, Responsibility and Transparency Act of 2022"; enact.
This legislation is expected to create a more structured approach to content moderation on social media platforms. By mandating transparency in decisions related to content removal, the bill seeks to safeguard users' rights to express themselves freely while promoting accountability among social media operators. By emphasizing users' ability to file complaints and compelling platforms to review their decisions, the bill suggests an effort to enhance user trust in these digital forums, which are delineated as essential spaces for public discourse.
House Bill 1465, known as the 'Social Media Accountability, Responsibility and Transparency Act of 2022', aims to establish a framework for regulating social media platforms in relation to censorship and the enforcement of acceptable use policies. The bill requires social media platforms to publish a clear and accessible acceptable use policy, which defines permissible content, the process for content removal, and the mechanism for user complaints. In addition, these platforms must provide an annual report detailing actions taken to enforce their policies, including content removals related to political, religious, or cultural matters.
Notably, the bill also stipulates that social media platforms are not required to notify users or allow appeals for content removal under certain circumstances, such as emergencies or ongoing investigations. This provision has raised concerns regarding the potential for arbitrary censorship and lack of due process for users. Furthermore, the involvement of the Attorney General in enforcing the bill adds a layer of state intervention that critics argue could infringe upon the independence of social media platforms and may lead to overreach in censorship authority.