Internet service providers often cite Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act as an absolute shield to liability for content on a website operated by them. However, Section 230 carries with it numerous exceptions.
Eric Goldman at the Technology & Marketing Law Blog has identified three examples where websites will always remain liable for first party content. Continue reading Section 230 Communications Decency Act Does Not Provide An Absolute Immunity. »
People often refer to the Communication Decency Act’s (CDA) ability to provide immunity to internet service providers who publish third party material. Interestingly enough, the statute itself does not use the word immunity but rather provides an exclusion from liability. That exclusion considers whether the internet service provider is publisher or a speaker. In fact, courts are beginning to adhere to the publisher or speaker definition in assessing the applicability of the exception. Continue reading Communication Decency Act Section 230 Immunity: Defining an Internet Service Provider as a Publisher or Speaker »
The Communications Decency Act (CDA) provides immunity to an internet service provider that merely publishes user-generated content, as long as its actions do not rise to the level of a content provider. Simply put, the closer the internet service provider is to a service provider than to a content provider, the more likely that the Section 230 immunity will apply. CDA immunity is often sought by internet service providers when parties file defamation and related torts against the website operator. Continue reading Section 230 Communications Decency Act Immunity: How to Use It and How to Lose It »
So many websites today are driven by user-generated content. While all websites should contain website agreements, such as terms of use, privacy policy, and a copyright policy, those websites that allow for user-generated content should absolutely ensure that they have such agreements. For sites with UGC, web site owners need to ensure that they are protected by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act if possible. In particular, the following should be considered: Continue reading Web Agreements Must Address User-Generated Content in Order to Receive Section 230 Immunity »
When dealing with user-generated content, the issue often arises whether immunity under the Communications Decency Act, Section 230 , applies so as to shield the computer service provider from liability for information originating with a third party user of the service. Courts generally address three separate inquiries when determining an answer. The court will look to the following: Continue reading How To Know When Section 230 Communications Decency Act Immunity Applies »
Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, commonly referred to as Section 230 by those in internet law space, provides immunity from civil liability for both providers of and users of “an interactive computer service” that publish information provided by others. This essentially shields web hosts from liability for user-generated content that may be deemed unlawful. As we learned in the Fair Housing Council of San Fernando Valley v. Roommates.com case as well as subsequent decisions , in order to avail oneself of the immunity offered under Section 230, the defendant must not be an “information content provider”. Continue reading User Generated Content: Section 230 Immunity Exception Requires That You Not Be An Information Content Provider »
Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 (CDA), 47 U.S.C. § 230 , immunizes providers of interactive computer services from liability from user generated content. An "interactive computer service" is defined as "any information service, system, or access software provider that providers or enables computer access by multiples users to a computer server." The CDA specifically states that "No provider . . . of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider." Thus, as long the computer service provider is not also an information content provider, or someone "responsible, in whole or in part, for the creation or development of" the offending conduct, the immunity of the CDA applies. Continue reading Section 230 Communications Decency Act of 1996 »
