Intermediary protections are the key to Internet innovation, and we fight to preserve them.
Internet infrastructure providers enable people to create and consume content, but it’s often agreed that these third parties should not be held responsible for how people use these services. As an analogy, a pen company isn’t responsible for what people write or draw with their pens.
Policies attempting to make online intermediaries responsible for all content on their networks, are misguided and undermine the Internet’s openness and environment. Imparting undue legal risk and regulatory burden on infrastructure providers impedes their ability to do business and places them in the unenviable position of policing content. A qualified entity such as a court would be best suited to determine what violates a particular law or concept.
Section 230 of the U.S. Communications Decency Act establishes a framework where those responsible for content are liable for their actions, rather than imposing liability on third-party providers. In international trade agreements, we advocate for the sort of intermediary liability protection principles outlined in Section 230.
Want to work with us on Intermediary Liability issues? Join the i2Coalition and our Public Policy Working Group.
Recent Updates On Intermediary Liability
i2Coalition Announces July 23rd Webinar: Understanding the Full Scope of Section 230 in the Internet Ecosystem
The i2Coalition is excited to announce a one-hour educational webinar on Friday, July 23, 2021, from 11am-12pm ET/ 15:00-16:00 UTC to build understanding of the importance of Section 230 protections to the entire Internet ecosystem. Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act prohibits treating a vast range of private sector and public Internet providers as a “publisher or […]
i2Coalition and eco’s Transatlantic Dialogue on Intermediary Liability: VIDEO
i2Coalition & eco – Association of the Internet Industry invited experts to discuss the future of intermediary liability on both sides of the Atlantic in a roundtable webinar that happened Oct 15, 2020. Hosts:● Thomas Rickert, eco● Christian Dawson, i2Coalition Guest speakers:● Melinda Clem, Board of Directors, i2Coalition and Vice President of Strategy, Afilias● Oliver […]
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i2Coalition Sept. 2020 Legislative Update
Your quick update on important Internet policy issues. With less than two months until the November 3 Presidential election, Congress is primarily focused on passing bills to avoid a shutdown by continuing to fund the government, and whether and how to provide additional COVID19 economic stimulus relief. Bipartisan negotiations on the COVID19 relief package have […]
i2Coalition Submits Comments on Europe’s Digital Services Act
In January, the European Commission announced the Digital Services Act – a now package of regulations aiming to address issues such as protecting Internet user data and addressing the legal responsibilities of online platforms. As legislators aim to roll out the DSA in the final quarter of 2020, a call for feedback was announced and […]
i2Coalition to Participate in Internet Governance Forum USA (IGF-USA), July 22rd & 23rd, 2020
The Internet Governance Forum USA (IGF-USA) is a conference that engages with the issues most relevant to the future of the Internet. It brings together a range of individuals spanning civil society, government, technologists, research scientists, industry and academia. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s IGF-USA will be held virtually as a two-day conference […]
i2Coalition Statement On Introduction of EARN IT Legislation
Washington DC; March 5th, 2020 – Today, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham and Senator Richard Blumenthal introduced the “Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies Act of 2020” or the “EARN IT Act of 2020”. i2Coalition Executive Director Christian Dawson issued the following statement: “The i2Coalition is the voice for the Internet’s infrastructure. […]
Free Speech Or Hate Speech: Should Online Due Diligence Change? Join the Discussion at RightsCon on June 12
Hate groups all too often go to the Internet to quickly spread their offensive messages. It often falls to service providers to stop the spread of this hate, but how do they identify a new group as a hate group? How soon should they act? And how does one maintain space for open dialogue and […]
i2C March/April 2019 Legislative Update
We’re anticipating activity on privacy, intermediary liability, Facebook, and other topics impacting the online community in March and April.
i2Coalition Statement on USMCA
The i2Coalition welcomes the digital chapter in the USMCA. Read a statement from David Snead, i2Coalition co-founder and policy working group chair.
Server Side: Monica Sanders On i2Coalition 2019 Policy Initiatives
Monica Sanders, i2Coalition Policy Director and Christian Dawson review an eventful 2018 and look forward to 2019.
Server Side: Frank Stiff & Michele Neylon On 2018 And Looking Forward To 2019
“The president of France essentially said that self-regulation didn’t work and they would be imposing regulation to “fix the bad stuff on the Internet.” That kind of statement from a major power is deeply worrying.”
A Section 230 Rewrite, Midterm Results, and Human Rights Concerns: November-December 2018 Legislative Update
After midterms, Congress is headed into an abbreviated lame-duck session and a season of more potential reshuffling in the Executive Branch.