EFF: Protecting the Legal Foundation of the Internet: 2019 in Review
Protecting the Legal Foundation of the Internet: 2019 in Review When someone says something unlawful online, they should be the one held responsible for it, not the website or platform where they said it. Section 230 —the most important law protecting free speech online—reflects that common-sense principle. This year, EFF defended Section 230 in Congress, the courts, and on the Internet. In 2018, Congress passed SESTA/FOSTA , the only change to Section 230 in its 23-year history. SESTA/FOSTA includes broadly-worded provisions aimed at holding websites liable for sex trafficking. This has given platforms little choice but to become more restrictive in what types of posts they allow , censoring innocent people in the process. Faced with the impossible task of complying with the law, some forums have shut down altogether . SESTA/FOSTA also cast legal doubt over important harm reduction activities in the sex work community, putting sex workers in direct danger . Misguided attempts to...