Sen. Ron Wyden, Author of Section 230, Vows to 'Fight Like Hell' to Protect It

Sen. Ron Wyden, Author of Section 230, Vows to 'Fight Like Hell' to Protect It

WASHINGTON — In response to a Wired article published today warning that Section 230 is a “last line of defense for abortion speech online,” the law’s co-author Sen. Ron Wyden has vowed to “keep fighting like hell" to protect it.

Paraphrasing the Wired piece, which emphasizes the centrality of Section 230 as “the First Amendment of the internet” and a bulwark against attacks on free speech, Wyden tweeted that “Section 230 is the last line of defense keeping abortion information online and accessible in the post-Roe world.”

“I will keep fighting like hell to protect this law that I authored so women have access to the health care information they need,” Wyden added.

The Wired article was written by Evan Greer and Lia Holland, both of nonprofit advocacy group Fight for the Future. In the piece, they assert that many of Wyden’s fellow Democrats who have been “misguidedly attacking” Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act — including the President and the Vice President — need to “wake up now” and “start listening to the warnings of human rights experts, sex workers, LGBTQ+ folks and reproductive rights groups.”

Otherwise, Greer and Holland write, “Democrats could help right-wing zealots achieve their goal: mass censorship of online content about abortion.”

Section 230, the authors opine, is “the last line of defense keeping reproductive health care support, information and fundraising online. Under Section 230, internet platforms that host and moderate user-generated content cannot generally be sued for that content. Section 230 is not absolute. It does not provide immunity if the platform develops or creates the content, and it does not provide immunity from the enforcement of federal criminal laws. But, crucially, it does protect against criminal liability from state laws.”

Digital rights advocates universally consider Section 230 to be a crucial bulwark against state and corporate censorship of controversial speech, including sexual expression and legal adult content.

To read Evan Greer and Lia Holland’s complete opinion piece, visit Wired.com.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Strike 3 Holdings Sues Meta for Pirating Vixen Media Group Content to Train AI

Vixen Media Group owner Strike 3 Holdings filed suit in federal court this week, accusing Facebook parent company Meta of copyright infringement and alleging that Meta has extensively pirated VMG content to train its artificial intelligence models.

Pineapple Support, Streamate to Host 'Navigating Grief and Loss' Support Group

Pineapple Support and Streamate are hosting a free online support group to help performers cope with grief and loss.

Friday is Final AV Compliance Deadline in UK

Friday, July 25 marks U.K. media regulator Ofcom’s deadline for user-to-user services such as tube, cam and fan sites to implement its requisite “highly effective age assurance” measures for preventing minors from viewing adult content.

AEBN Publishes Popular Searches for May, June

AEBN has released the top search terms for the months of May and June from its straight and gay theaters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Two Texas Bills Restricting Sex Toy Sales Fail to Pass

Two bills aimed at restricting sales of sex toys have failed to pass the Texas state legislature during its 2025 session.

NYC Adult Stores Petition for Rehearing in Zoning Law Case

A group of adult businesses on Tuesday petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit to rehear a case involving a zoning law that could severely limit adult stores’ operations in New York City.

Ofcom Releases Transparency Reporting Guidelines

Ofcom, the U.K. media regulator, has made public its official guidance detailing how online service providers — including adult sites — will be required to publish annual transparency reports on their efforts to protect children from online harms.

New AV Rules Take Effect for Ireland-Based Sites

Ireland’s Online Safety Code came into force Monday, including a provision requiring adult sites headquartered in Ireland to implement age assurance measures beyond self-declaration.

XBIZ Amsterdam Calls on New Startups for 'Spotlight' Program

XBIZ is pleased to announce that its new “Startup Spotlight” programming will make its European premiere at XBIZ Amsterdam 2025, set to take place Sept. 2-5 at the Jakarta Hotel Amsterdam.

Texas Resumes AV Lawsuit Against Aylo Following SCOTUS Decision

A district court judge in Texas has unfrozen the state’s $1.6 million lawsuit against Aylo for allegedly failing to comply with age verification requirements, Bloomberg Law is reporting.

Show More