Benefits of Section 230

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 is an extremely important piece of Internet legislation for shielding a website operator’s liability for Internet speech. It provides immunity from liability for providers and users of an "interactive computer service" who publish information provided by others. An “interactive computer service” includes hosts, online dating sites, social networks, live cam networks, classified advertising sites, online forums and others that permit third parties to publish content on their web servers.

The following example can help you to understand more about Section 230.

Suppose a social media user writes something controversial on their social media page. In this case, the operator of that particular social media site does not have to worry about certain legal ramifications based on this third party publishing this content.

Section 230 has proved to be economically powerful too. Entrepreneurs and business owners have taken advantage of the law and the protection that it provides. They have leveraged the benefits of Section 230 into user-generated content sites that many individuals use and enjoy today. These sites enjoy additional legal protection as a result of DMCA Law.

You should contact a legal expert if you are interested in learning more about Section 230. Securing the counsel of a qualified attorney can help you to fully understand Section 230, DMCA Law, and other legal information which could benefit your business.