Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (1996) shields online platforms from liability for user-generated content, treating them as neutral intermediaries rather than publishers. It states 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(c)(1)).
Core Summary
It states no provider or user of an “interactive computer service” shall be held liable for third-party information they transmit or store, provided they’re not the content creator.
Section 230 is the Backbone of the Open Web
The nonprofit advocacy group Electronic Frontier Foundation warned, “The free and open internet as we know it couldn’t exist without Section 230.” This law has been the pathway forward in the growth of the internet by allowing platforms to work without the constant threat of lawsuits over user’s content.
Impact to Online Platforms
Due to the legal liability of user-generated content on smaller platforms, they’d have to censor content that would otherwise land them in bankruptcy due to legal liabilities.
Larger platforms like YouTube, known to already censor content and in many cases demonetize channels over particular topics, would like become more aggressive in censorship to lower the odds of legal liability. The video embedded on this page and others like it, exposing real events like Section 230’s attack, would likely not be allowed with a repealed Section 230.
Review sites like Yelp would be forced to censor any negative review to eliminate legal liability.
Sizing It Up
Imagine libraries being held legally accountable to every book on every topic or opinion made within its facility. Imagine living in a world where honesty and authenticity violate the community standards of a few corporations. Even with Section 230, these values are under attack where truth and honesty can be deplatformed overnight.
Taking Action
Protect the open internet: Tell Congress to save Section 230. Take action now at EFF.org