Tech Trade Groups Open to Liability Shield Curb on Illegal Posts

  • Senate bill requires removal of posts courts deem unlawful
  • Industry signals rare concession with legal shield under fire

   

Photographer: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg

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Representatives of trade groups for top internet companies such as Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Facebook Inc. opened the door to curbing a prized liability shield for illegal posts.

The groups said during a hearing Tuesday that they could support provisions in a bipartisan Senate bill that requires internet platforms to take down posts that courts have found to be illegal, such as defamatory posts or harassment.