The Legal Battles Taking Shape in the Clash Over Internet Content

A federal law known as Section 230 has provided a powerful legal shield for internet companies for nearly three decades. Designed to “promote the internet,” it protects platforms from civil liability for content posted to their sites by third parties.

But the measure is inspiring lawsuits from plaintiffs who say it allows internet companies to escape accountability for harmful content. With the Supreme Court once again refusing to rule on the section’s validity this term, and Congress on a bipartisan quest to reform it, issues involving the First Amendment, child safety, and technology innovation are very much in play.

What’s behind the backlash aimed at online platforms? And what’s on the legal horizon for the way they control content?

Join The Sidley Podcast host and Sidley partner, Sam Gandhi, as he speaks with two of the firm’s thought leaders on these issues — Randi Singer and Michael Borden. Randi is a partner in Sidley’s Commercial Litigation and Disputes and IP Litigation practices. Michael is head of Sidley’s Government Strategies group and a partner in the firm’s White Collar Defense and Investigations, Global Arbitration, Trade and Advocacy, and Crisis Management and Strategic Response practices.

Together, they discuss the social media cases that have cropped up involving content moderation, and what has inspired those cases from a legal, business, and cultural perspective.

Executive Producer: John Metaxas, WallStreetNorth Communications, Inc.