Section 230 Communications Decency Act

Section 230 is a piece of internet legislation in the united states passed into law as part of the communications decency act cda of 1996 a common name for title v of the telecommunications act of 1996 formally codified as section 230 of the communications act of 1934 at 47 u s c.

Section 230 communications decency act. It was written by sen. The goal of section 230 is to enable internet and tech companies to develop without fear of legal liability content published to their websites by internet users. Ron wyden d ore and former rep. Section 230 generally provides immunity for website publishers from third party content.

The communications decency act s broader purpose was to slow the spread of child pornography on the web. Section 230 of the communications decency act of 1996 is under a harsh new spotlight in the wake of google s decision to force conservative news site the federalist to remove its comments section. This comes somewhat as a surprise since the original purpose of the legislation was to restrict free speech on the internet. 16 communications decency act 47 u s c.

Congress originally enacted the statute to nurture a nascent industry while also. 1 the rapidly developing array of internet and other interactive computer services available to individual. The section acts as a liability shield for all websites. 230 a provision of the communication decency act tucked inside the communications decency act cda of 1996 is one of the most valuable tools for protecting freedom of expression and innovation on the internet.

Commonly known as the communications decency act of 1996 was never intended to provide legal protection to websites that unlawfully promote and facilitate prostitution and websites that facilitate traffickers in advertising the sale of unlawful sex acts with sex trafficking victims. Section 230 of the communications act of 1934 47 u s c. Department of justice analyzed section 230 of the communications decency act of 1996 which provides immunity to online platforms from civil liability based on third party content and for the removal of content in certain circumstances. Section 230 was only a small portion of that broader legislation.

Section 230 is part of the communications decency act of 1996. As part of its broader review of market leading online platforms the u s.