Section 230: The Internet's Most Important and Most Misunderstood Law is Unfairly Under Attack

Authors

• Málfríður A. Helgadóttir, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

Abstract

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, a foundational law enabling the modern internet, is under threat despite its critical role in protecting online platforms from liability for user-generated content. The article argues that Section 230 is essential for promoting free speech and innovation, as its repeal would force platforms to censor content to avoid liability, fundamentally altering the internet. Critics often misunderstand the law, and bipartisan attacks jeopardize its future, risking the unravelling of the internet as we know it.

Disciplines

Communications Law | Comparative and Foreign Law | Criminal Law | Criminal Procedure | Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law | First Amendment | Law | Science and Technology Law

Recommended Citation

Málfríður A. Helgadóttir, Section 230: The Internet's Most Important and Most Misunderstood Law is Unfairly Under Attack, 40 Cardozo Arts & Ent. L.J. 283 (2022).
Available at: https://larc.cardozo.yu.edu/cardozoaelj/vol40/iss1/10