Facebook’s proposal for internet reform criticized

Rep. Anna Eshoo, a California Democrat whose district includes Silicon Valley, called Zuckerberg’s proposal a “masterful distraction” during a virtual press conference.

At his fourth congressional testimony on Thursday, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg plans to offer his own suggestion on how to reform the legal shield that protects the social media site from liability for users’ posts.

In prepared remarks released ahead of today’s hearing before two subcommittees of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Zuckerberg proposes that platforms should be held accountable based on their general adherence to best practices for addressing unlawful content, rather than for individual posts that slip through the cracks.

But two House Democrats said Wednesday that it’s nothing more than a red herring.

Rep. Anna Eshoo, a California Democrat whose district includes Silicon Valley, called Zuckerberg’s proposal a “masterful distraction” during a virtual press conference Wednesday. Rep. Tom Malinowski, D-N.J., said it’s “a classic example of Facebook hoping that we miss the point.” Eshoo sits on the Energy and Commerce Committee and will have the opportunity to question Zuckerberg on Thursday.