Klobuchar, who chairs the Senate Antitrust Subcommittee and has authored antitrust legislation focused on large technology companies, mentioned that Congress should change the immunity from legal liability it granted Internet platforms in 1996 for content others post on the sites.
After attacking Paul Pelosi, the House speaker’s husband, Klobuchar said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that know-how companies “make money off of this violence.”
“I would waive their immunity,” Klobuchar said, “so they can be prosecuted if they make money spreading election fraud and hate speech.”
Klobuchar added that lawmakers of all parties have shown interest in such an amendment to the immunity provision in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996.
Asked if she trusted Musk to run Twitter, which he acquired last week, Klobuchar replied, “No, I don’t.”
Musk has argued that Twitter should be much less aggressive about banning people from the platform for their posts, especially political leaders like former President Donald Trump.
He has delayed restoring access to the platform for people banned for hate speech, bullying or spreading election misinformation while the company sets up a content moderation panel.
Klobuchar said Musk’s support for such a panel is “a good sign,” but added, “I remain concerned.” Stay up to date on technology and startup news that matters. Subscribe to our daily e-newsletter for the latest and most important tech information delivered straight to your inbox.