Section 230 Good Samaritan

Section 230 as passed has two primary parts both listed under 230 c as the good samaritan portion of the law section 230 c 1 as identified above defines that an information service provider shall not be treated as a publisher or speaker of information from another provider.

Section 230 good samaritan. The limiting section 230 immunity to good samaritan s act has been introduced to the us senate and would do away with legislation that has become a cornerstone of internet freedom and the success of american internet companies. That key piece of legislation is the communications decency act of 1996 specifically section 230. But that s exactly what happened to section 230 of the communications decency act as big tech behaviors have angered politicians on both sides of the aisle. Might have some wonderful benefits regarding anyone with a big tech issues on the content matter side of things.

First the department proposes denying section 230 immunity to truly bad actors. Section 230 was written to protect good samaritan blocking and screening of offensive material it was designed in other words to protect platforms that despite putting in a genuine good faith effort to keep bad stuff off the internet sometimes mess up. Blumenthal 8 cosponsors. Random insight 14 usc 230 section 230 internet part c 2 a says any action voluntarily taken in good faith to restrict access to or seems good faith is required.

In that spirit section 230 s good samaritan clause says that internet platforms are not publishers so they are broadly not responsible for what users post with the exception of federal. Summary of s 3983 116th congress 2019 2020. Limiting section 230 immunity to good samaritans act introduced 6 17 20 by sen. Further analysis by masnick s.

Section 230 good samaritan. As the title of section 230 c makes clear the provision provides limited liability protection to a provider of an interactive computer service such as an online platform that engages in good samaritan blocking of harmful content. Eliminating abusive and rampant neglect of interactive technologies act introduced 3 5 20 by sen. The portion of section 230 currently being debated is the protection for good samaritan blocking and screening of offensive material.

The title of section 230 s immunity provision protection for good samaritan blocking and screening of offensive material makes clear that section 230 immunity is meant to incentivize and protect responsible online platforms.