Hillary Clinton says social media companies must moderate their content or 'we'll lose total control'

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Saturday that social media companies must moderate content on their platforms or “we lose total control.”

Clinton told CNN anchor Michael Smerconish that while some steps have been taken at the state level to regulate social media, she would like to see the federal government do more to moderate content.

“We can look at the state of California and the state of New York. I think some other states have taken action as well,” Clinton said.

“But we need national action, and unfortunately our Congress has failed to address these threats to our children,” she added.

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Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks during a panel discussion at the Vital Voices Global Festival on May 5, 2023 in Washington, DC (Getty Images)

Clinton said she believes the issue should be “high on the policy agenda of any legislation” and called for the repeal of Section 230 of the Communications Act, which protects online platforms from liability for third-party content, such as user content to become social media. This immunity applies to the content itself and, in certain circumstances, to the removal of content.

“In my opinion, we should repeal something called Section 230, which gave immunity to platforms on the Internet because it was assumed that they were just pass-throughs and that they shouldn't be judged for the content they published.” ” said Clinton.

“But we now know that was an overly simplistic view, that if the platforms, whether Facebook or Twitter/X or Instagram or TikTok, whatever they are, if they don't moderate and monitor the content, we lose total control . ” She continued. “And it's not just the social and psychological impacts, it's real life.”

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, Illinois, on August 19, 2024. (REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)

Clinton said social media companies' immunity should be lifted so that “guardrails” could be put in place.

She said cellphones should be restricted in schools, a measure approved by several states including Florida and California. Individual school districts in various states across the country have also adopted policies banning or restricting cell phone use during school hours.

“Take phones out of schools,” she said. “I’m really excited for schools to start doing this and for kids to hand over their phones when they come in the door.”

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Hillary Rodham Clinton attends the Broadway premiere of “The Wiz” at the Marquee Theater on April 17, 2024 in New York City. (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

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“And you know what? Children pay more attention in class,” Clinton added. “In the canteen they talk to each other, things that were part of everyday life as school children.”

Last month, during an appearance on MSNBC, Clinton suggested that Americans accused of interfering in US elections by spreading “propaganda” for former President Trump should face civil or even criminal charges citing the 2016 election, in which she lost to Trump.