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RockyMin 1 point ago +1 / -0

They aren't private companies. They are traded on the stock exchange, hence they are publicly owned.

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nufosmatic [S] 1 point ago +1 / -0

No, they are not "publicly owned" - they are owned by their respective stockholders. "Publically traded" sets up rules under the SEC as to what they must report on a quarterly and annual basis. A privately held company has stockholders as well, but he stocks are not traded on an open exchange but between individuals.

FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT, they are not "private companies" and cannot censor content they are hosting on behalf of their clients. Newspapers don't have this protection - they are sued all of the time for libel and slander. It's a high bar to cross due to precedent. There was no precedent when the Internet was formed, so The Government put 230 in place to keep them from having the marrow sucked from their bones by trial lawyers.

What we do need is "tort reform"...