Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for increased regulation of social media platforms during a recent interview with CNN.

Clinton, who appeared on the network on Saturday, stressed that if these platforms do not actively moderate content, “we lose total control.”

Aug 19, 2024; Chicago, IL, USA; Hillary Rodham Clinton, Former Secretary of State, speaks during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasper Colt-USA TODAY

Her comments came during a discussion on the need for tighter control over online content, echoing her long-standing concern about the influence of social media on public discourse.

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Clinton argued that social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, and TikTok should not be protected by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

Section 230 shields these platforms from liability for user-generated content, a protection Clinton believes is outdated and harmful in today’s digital landscape.

“We should be, in my view, repealing something called Section 230, which gave platforms on the internet immunity because they were thought to be just pass-throughs, that they shouldn’t be judged for the content that is posted,” Clinton explained.

She continued, “But we now know that is an overly simple view, that if the platforms—whether it’s Facebook or Twitter/X or Instagram or TikTok or whatever they are—if they don’t moderate and monitor the content, we lose total control.”

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Clinton also touched on the growing debate around cellphone use in schools, voicing her support for policies that restrict or ban cellphones during school hours. “We’ve conducted a big experiment on ourselves and particularly our kids, and I think the evidence is in,” she said. “We’ve got to do more, take phones out of schools. I’m so happy to see schools beginning to do that, where kids turn their phone in when they walk in the door.”

Several states, including Florida and California, have implemented policies aimed at limiting cellphone use in schools. Individual school districts across the country have also adopted similar measures, citing concerns about student focus and well-being.

Clinton praised these efforts, suggesting that reducing cellphone use in schools could lead to improved student behavior and academic performance.

While Clinton’s recent comments focused on social media and school policies, her views on online content moderation have stirred controversy in the past.

Just last month, during an appearance on MSNBC, Clinton suggested that Americans who spread what she referred to as “misinformation” should face civil or criminal charges.

She linked this idea to what she claimed was Russian interference in the 2016 election, which she lost to former President Donald Trump.

“There were Russians engaged in direct election interference and boosting Trump back in 2016,” Clinton said during her MSNBC appearance. “But I also think there are Americans who are engaged in this kind of propaganda, and whether they should be civilly or criminally charged would be something that would be a better deterrent.”

Clinton’s call for stricter penalties for spreading what she considers misinformation has drawn criticism from free speech advocates, who argue that such measures could infringe on First Amendment rights.

Her stance on social media regulation also aligns with a growing number of Democrats who have called for greater oversight of tech platforms, particularly in relation to the spread of political content.

In the recent vice presidential debate between Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, similar concerns were raised about free speech and misinformation.

Walz, echoing some of Clinton’s sentiments, expressed the view that certain types of speech—such as “hate speech” or misinformation—should be limited.

However, his understanding of the First Amendment came under scrutiny, as he referenced the common but incorrect belief that “you can’t yell fire in a crowded theater” to justify such restrictions.

This phrase, often misinterpreted, does not accurately reflect the constitutional protections provided by the First Amendment.

Clinton’s remarks, combined with similar views from other prominent Democrats, highlight the ongoing debate over the balance between free speech and the regulation of online content in today’s digital age.