The System · Part 1
Chapter 10: Government Failure #2: Incentives Without Accountability
Governments recognized the risks but lacked tools matching platform speed and scale. Section 230 immunized platforms from liability, designed for a smaller internet. Self-regulation addressed symptoms while leaving core incentives intact. The result: an enduring gap between influence and responsibility.
Key insights
- Section 230 was designed when platforms hosted content, not curated it
- Platforms scaled to billions while accountability remained pre-digital
- Political polarization made regulation risky, any action could be framed as censorship
- International responses demonstrated alternatives but also showed limits
- Engagement-driven incentives remained unchanged despite congressional hearings
Platforms occupied a different position, unprecedented influence with limited accountability.
Sections in this chapter
- System scaled faster than oversight
- Section 230
- Fear of censorship
- Self-regulation limits
- Accountability gap