What are the benefits of Section 230?

Section 230(c)(2) provides immunity from civil liabilities for information service providers that remove or restrict content from their services they deem “obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, excessively violent, harassing, or otherwise objectionable, whether or not such material is constitutionally protected”, as long …

What is Section 230 of the federal Communications Act?

Section 230 says that “No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider” (47 U.S.C. § 230).

What is big tech Section 230?

When it was first passed in 1996, Section 230 was intended to enable internet companies to host third-party content and engage in targeted moderation of the worst content without being treated as “publishers,” which are generally held accountable for the content that appears in its publication.

Why was the Communications Decency Act passed?

Communications Decency Act (CDA), also called Title V of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, legislation enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1996 primarily in response to concerns about minors’ access to pornography via the Internet.

What would happen if Section 230 is repealed?

Goldman and other experts interviewed for this story say the most likely outcome of a repeal of Section 230 is one that neither the left nor the right want to see: more censorship by major tech companies and potentially paralyzing other websites.

What is Section 230 and how does it affect my business?

Section 230 makes internet service providers, like Google and Facebook, immune from lawsuits based on claims related to content published by third-parties using their service. For example, if someone posts a fake Google Review about your business that is defamatory, you generally cannot sue Google for defamation.

What is Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996?

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 (a common name for Title V of the Telecommunications Act of 1996) is a piece of Internet legislation. It provides immunity from liability for providers and users of an interactive computer service who publish information provided by others.

Will the 1996 Telecommunications Act have unintended consequences?

Experts fear unintended consequences. Twenty-six words tucked into a 1996 law overhauling telecommunications have allowed companies like Facebook, Twitter and Google to grow into the giants they are today.