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Section 230 of the Communications Decency Actthe provision that protects tech platforms from legal liability for content posted by their usershas long been a point of contention among lawmakers. Since its passage in 1996, it has fueled frustration across the political spectrum, with critics arguing that it enables Big Tech to dodge accountability. Now, nearly three decades later, a bipartisan group of senators is making a renewed push to dismantle it, with Senators Lindsey Graham and Dick Durbin crossing party lines to draft a bill aimed at repealing Section 230, according to The Information. For years, Section 230 has been a scapegoat not just for politicians eager to rein in tech giants, but also for users frustrated by the prevalence of harmful content online. The clause has often been cited by platforms as a reason they cannotor will notremove content that, while not outright illegal, may be offensive or harmful, such as hate speech or harassment. Originally intended to foster innovation during the internets formative years, the provision now feels outdated to many observers. Few beyond the C-suites and legal departments of tech companies still support it. Still, experts warn that repealing Section 230 outright would be a mistake. Sunsetting Section 230 without proposing ways to change it is like taking a hostage without having a list of demands ready, says Adam Kovacevich, founder and CEO of the Chamber of Progress, a tech industry trade group. This is a deeply unserious exercise that reflects the bipartisan opposition to 230 is only surface-deep. Kovacevich argues that reformnot repealis the more responsible path forward. If Congress doesnt like Section 230, it should mend it, not end it, he says. The bipartisan momentum behind the new bill gives it more traction than past attempts, which have often faltered due to partisan divides. But even with broader political alignment, a full repeal could backfire. Republicans have criticized the provision for allowing platforms to suppress content they favor, while Democrats believe it enables platforms to avoid accountability for hosting harmful material. Both sides want changebut for opposing reasons. Both Democrats and Republicans should be wary of getting rid of Section 230, warns Anupam Chander, a law professor at Georgetown University. He notes that the law protects a range of actions that each party valueseven if it also enables behavior they oppose. Section 230 protects platforms against lawsuits when they get rid of hate speech, such as lawsuits alleging discrimination against men or religion, Chander says. Thats a key concern for liberal-leaning individuals who view anti-DEI backlash and culture war rhetoric as regressive. Yet conservatives, too, benefit from the law’s broad protections. Section 230 also protects platforms like X or Truth Social so that they aren’t held liable for the speech they tolerate on their platforms, he says. Without those protections, platforms could face costly legal challenges for hosting controversial speechpotentially chilling the very discourse their users want to preserve. Both sides want different things from a post-230 world, Chander adds, but may find the speech they like deemed too risky by internet platforms. Ultimately, he argues, it’s safer to reform the law than to scrap it entirely: Being sued in the United States without a liability shield is an expensive and time-consuming undertaking.
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E-Commerce
Turkish authorities have detained 1,133 people across Turkey since the start of protests five days ago against the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Monday. The detention last Wednesday of Imamoglu, President Tayyip Erdogan’s main political rival, has triggered the biggest street protests in Turkey in more than a decade. On Sunday, a court jailed him, pending trial, on corruption charges that he denies. Despite bans on street gatherings in many cities, the mostly peaceful anti-government demonstrations continued for a fifth consecutive night on Sunday, with hundreds of thousands taking part. Yerlikaya said 123 police officers had been injured during the protests so far, adding that the government would not allow “the terrorising of the streets”. Those detained include nine journalists who covered overnight protests in several cities, the Journalists’ Union of Turkey said on Monday. It was not immediately clear why the journalists were detained. An Agence France Presse (AFP) staff photographer is among the detained journalists, the union said in a post on X. Imamoglu’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has been calling for protests against the court decision to arrest the mayor, which they label as politicised and undemocratic. Imamoglu has denied the charges he faces as “unimaginable accusations and slanders” and has also called for nationwide protests. Erdogan said last week that the government would not accept “the disruption of public order”. His government denies that the investigations are politically motivated and says the courts are independent. Omer Celik, spokesperson for Erdogan’s ruling AK Party, said on Monday the CHP’s call for protests was aimed at covering up the opposition’s shortcomings. “Democratic protest is a (fundamental) right, but the language used by the CHP is not the language of democratic protest,” Celik said. JAILED ‘FOR NO REASON’ Imamoglu, 54, was jailed pending trial on Sunday, as the CHP held a primary election to name him presidential candidate. Some 15 million votes were cast in support of the mayor. News of Imamoglu’s arrest covered the front pages of Turkish newspapers on Monday, with opposition media suggesting the mayor was arrested for being the most credible challenger to Erdogan. The mayor’s supporters said on Monday the jailing of Imamoglu demonstrated a lack of justice in Turkey. “I think there is an injustice committed against Imamoglu. They put the man in prison for no reason,” said Adem Bali, a 22- year-old construction worker. Cigdem Tatlica, an unemployed 50-year-old, said she believed there was no justice in Turkey. “This system cannot continue like this.” In an address to the demonstration in Istanbul’s Sarachane district in front of the municipality building, CHP leader Ozgur Ozel said on Sunday that they would continue the protests until Imamoglu was released. Huseyin Hayatsever and Ali Kucukgocmen, Reuters
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E-Commerce
After nearly 13 years leading PepsiCo design, its first chief design officerMauro Porciniis departing the company. (Previous to PepsiCo, he was the first designer named to a chief design officer role at 3M.) Under Porcini, design at the PepsiCo family of brands has seen a significant glow up. He arrived shortly after 2008s disastrous Pepsi rebrand during the era of flat design. And he spent the next decade investing in more internal talentsuccessfully arguing that the approach would actually save the company money while offering stronger creative autonomy. Porcini opened a flagship design center in NYC in 2012, then following its success, he added 18 more across the world, creating a team that swelled to 400 designers globally. Pepsis revenue has grown 40% over that time, while its stock has tripled. Porcini is leaving on two particular high notesa well received black and blue Pepsi rebrand launched in 2023, and a new Mountain Dew that embraced its Appalachian roots last year. He also published the business memoir The Human Side of Innovation: The Power of People in Love with People, in 2022. Porcinis next move is still unknown. Meanwhile, weve reached out to PepsiCo to inquire if the company intends to hire a new chief design officer and will update this story if we hear back.
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E-Commerce
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