Panel 1: Past: Section 230’s origins and early interpretations
From Cato Event Podcast by Cato Institute
February 27, 2026 · 1h 26m
About this episode
This episode discusses the origins and early interpretations of Section 230, its impact on online speech, and the ongoing debates surrounding it.
Thirty years ago, as part of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, Section 230 became law. The law was the result of a bipartisan effort that saw the potential of the internet and sought to encourage innovation and opportunities for online speech. Thirty years later, the law remains crucial to users and innovators of all sizes; however, it has been criticized by both the left and the right. Join us for a day featuring panels on the history of Section 230, the current impact, debates, and legal challenges around the law, and how it might interact with future content moderation strategies including decentralization and technologies such as artificial intelligence. The event will also feature a live virtual conversation with one of Section 230’s co-authors, Senator Ron Wyden (D‑OR). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
People in this episode
Host: Cato Institute
Guest: Senator Ron Wyden
Topics covered
- Section 230
- internet law
- content moderation
- bipartisan legislation
- online speech
- innovation
- legal challenges
Keywords
- Section 230
- Telecommunications Act
- internet
- bipartisan
- content moderation
- artificial intelligence
- legal challenges
- online speech
- innovation
Mentioned in this episode
Places: Oregon
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