Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act protects digital innovation and freedom of expression. Some credit the law with allowing the internet economy to grow into what it is today.
What Does Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act Do?
Section 230 of the CDC gives websites immunity from user comments and posts. However, certain exceptions exist for intellectual property and criminal-based claims.
Why Is Section 230 Important?
Without the legal framework of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, social media and review websites wouldn’t exist. Because of Section 230, users can post videos or messages on YouTube and Vimeo, reviews on Amazon and Yelp, updates on Instagram and Twitter. Without Section 230, it would be impossible to monitor every account. YouTube alone adds over 100 hours of content a minute!
Bottom line: If Section 230 went away, most companies would stop allowing users to interact at all.
How Section 230 Protects Online Bloggers
Section 230 of the CDC also protects bloggers who allow comments on posts. This protection shields them even when they know offensive comments are sitting on their sites.
Examples of Websites Protected by Section 230
Wikipedia is an example of a website that could not exist without Section 230. The online encyclopedia deals with lots of legal issues, and defamation is one of the most common. WordPress is another example. The blogging platform owes its growth, in large part, to Section 230.
Questions About Section 230 of the CDA?
Are you a reporter with legal questions about Section 230 of the CDA? If so, feel free to shoot us a message.