Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 (CDA) has been both praised and criticized. As applied by many courts, Section 230 protects interactive computer services (such as Twitter, Craigslist, and Facebook) from liability based on user generated content. For example, if a Facebook user posts something defamatory on his or her Facebook page, the social media provider cannot be held liable for defamation because of the protection provided by Section 230.
1. Do you think Section 230 is a positive force in the business environment? In society?
2. Should internet platforms like Facebook and Craigslist be protected from liability for the content posted by their users? Does the reasoning make sense to you?
3. If Section 230 didn’t exist, would the internet (and all of the businesses operated in cyberspace) fundamentally change?
