Section 230

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Sen. Ron Wyden, Author of Section 230, Vows to 'Fight Like Hell' to Protect It

In response to a Wired article published today warning that Section 230 is a “last line of defense for abortion speech online,” the law’s co-author Sen. Ron Wyden vowed to “keep fighting like hell" to protect it.

Supreme Court Puts Texas Online Platform Liability Law on Hold

In an unusual 5-4 vote that did not follow ideological lines, the Supreme Court has temporarily blocked a controversial Texas social media law that would have made social media platforms liable for moderating content based on what the law defined as “viewpoints.”

5th Circuit Gives Go Ahead to Controversial Texas Social Media Liability Law

A three-judge appeals panel ruled today that an extremely controversial new Texas law making online platforms liable for “viewpoint discrimination” can go into effect immediately.

Corey Silverstein to Lead Section 230 'Legal Impact' Webinar Thursday

Adult industry attorney Corey Silverstein will kick off a new quarterly live webinar series titled "Legal Impact: Industry Issues, Today & Tomorrow" on Thursday, 2 p.m. (PDT).

Texas Judges Claim Jurisdiction Over Facebook Lawsuit Challenging Section 230

Texas' Fourteenth Court of Appeals denied yesterday Facebook’s appeal to dismiss a lawsuit in which lawyers for anonymous plaintiffs argued the platform “facilitated the sex trafficking of minors” and is not protected from liability by Section 230.

Supreme Court Declines to Hear Section 230 Case Against Facebook

The Supreme Court declined today to settle a question presented by a Jane Doe looking to establish Facebook’s liability in a case where she alleges that she was “sex trafficked as a minor” because the social media platform “connected her with a sex trafficker.”

Plaintiffs Urge Judge to Strip Reddit of Section 230 Protections Over UGC

A proposed class of plaintiffs currently appealing a dismissed lawsuit against Reddit, alleging that the platform “knowingly benefits from lax enforcement of its content polices, including for child pornography," filed an opening appellate brief this week renewing their claim that Section 230 protections should not shield the social media platform.

Alabama Federal Judge Denies Section 230 Immunity to MindGeek, Claims Pornhub Is a Publisher

An Alabama federal judge today shut down MindGeek’s petition to dismiss a class action lawsuit filed by Jane Does over content posted on Pornhub that allegedly depicts instances of their human trafficking, claiming that Section 230 protections over third-party content do not apply because the company exercised “extensive control over the development of pornographic content on their websites.”

Influential Anti-Porn Lobby NCOSE Endorses EARN IT Act

The leading anti-porn crusading group in the U.S., the religiously inspired NCOSE, has re-endorsed the EARN IT Act after its reintroduction by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) in late January.

Judge Dismisses Backpage.com-Related Lawsuit Against Salesforce

A California appeals court sided with Salesforce last week and dismissed a lawsuit by 50 “Jane Does” claiming that the cloud-based software company was liable for their alleged sex trafficking because it had provided services to the now-defunct classifieds site Backpage.com.

FSC Sounds Alarm About Revived Anti-Section-230 California Bill

A controversial California bill that would eliminate Section 230 protections in the name of fighting “online trafficking” and “revenge porn,” along the lines established at the federal level by FOSTA-SESTA, has moved forward in the state senate, spurring the Free Speech Coalition to renew its campaign against the proposed legislation.

Plaintiffs Seek to Overturn Section 230 Ruling Protecting Reddit in Alleged CSAM Case

A dismissed class-action lawsuit against Reddit, alleging that the platform “knowingly benefits from lax enforcement of its content polices, including for child pornography,” has been revived through an appeal to the Ninth Circuit.

Facebook Asks 3rd Circuit to Review Decision in Complex Section 230 Case

Facebook asked the full Third Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday to review last month’s split-panel decision allowing a complex intellectual property and “right of publicity” lawsuit — which challenges Section 230 protections over third-party content and also mentions adult conglomerate WGCZ as co-defendant — to move forward.

House Dems Introduce Bill to Further Erode Section 230 Over 'Harmful Content'

Four House Democrats introduced yet another Section 230 reform bill last week, titled the “Justice Against Malicious Algorithms Act.”

FSC Hires Lobbyists to Represent Adult Industry in DC

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has hired Washington, D.C. lobbying firm Clarity Consulting to develop relationships in Congress and other public policy centers that would allow adult industry concerns to be heard in matters that directly affect the sector.

Sen. Klobuchar Introduces First Major Section 230 Carve-Out Since FOSTA-SESTA

A new Section 230-eroding bill, the “Health Misinformation Act” (HMA), was introduced yesterday by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) to create liability for platforms that allow third-party content that is deemed to spread “misinformation” about an “existing public health emergency.”

ACLU Warns Against Biden's Latest Attack on Section 230

The ACLU sharply criticized President Joe Biden and his administration for his direct attack on Section 230 liability protections, which  the White House has blamed for a proliferation of misinformation.

MindGeek Lawyers Ask Alabama Judge to Uphold Section 230 Protections

MindGeek lawyers presented this week their first on-record Section 230 arguments in the current onslaught of liability lawsuits over third-party content uploaded onto Pornhub, part of the War on Porn-driven campaign that kicked off with Nicholas Kristof’s New York Times article in early December 2020.

It's the Moderation, Stupid: Conservative Platform Gettr Faces 'Sonic the Hedgehog Porn' Issues

After the tumultuous collapse of Parler earlier this year, the current turmoil around adult content posted on startup platform Gettr highlights the problematic paradox at the core of marketing “free speech” platforms aimed at conservatives and others on the political right.

Florida Judge Halts Controversial 'Free Speech' Law

A Florida court enjoined last week the implementation of Florida’s controversial new law making social media platforms liable for moderation policies, in the name of political — but not sexual — "free speech."