FOLLOW US

  • facebook
  • twitter
Sun

March 15, 2026

USA Herald November 15, 2024

Freedom Under Fire – The Unlikely Law That is Saving the Internet

USA Herald ı By Jeff Watterson

1,093 0 Comments

In July of 2013, Attorneys General of 47 states petitioned Congress to do away with the immunity offered by Section 230. The ACLU reacted to the petition, arguing that because of Section 230, “[a] website can provide a platform for all speech without worrying that if one of its online users posts something stupid, critical, defamatory, or unlawful, the website itself can be held responsible.” The ACLU further stated that if Section 230 were removed that “it wouldn't take long for the vibrant culture of free speech to disappear from the web.”

The Attorneys General were back at it again in 2015, when 40 Attorneys General signed in support of an Amici Curiae (friend of the court) brief in favor of Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood’s case against Google. The case, Google, Inc. v. Jim Hood, is a suit filed against Hood by Google for issuing a subpoena based on allegations that Google is responsible for the ability to find copyrighted materials through their internet search engine. Google stated, “The Attorney General may prefer a pre-filtered Internet—but the Constitution and Congress have denied him the authority to mandate it.” A federal judge blocked the subpoena, an action which eventually led to a dismissal agreement between Hood and Google.

In 2016, Yelp fought a court ruling in California that required the company to remove negative reviews after a law firm sued the company. Critics of the ruling worried that it would set a precedent of holding internet review services liable for customer reviews. Others worried that it would result in businesses pursuing legal action against the reviewers themselves.

Section 230 was directly contradicted last year when the case known as Jane Doe No.14 v. Internet Brands, Inc. was decided in favor of the plaintiff. In the case, Jane Doe, a model on the site Model Mayhem, alleged that Internet Brands, Inc. (the parent company) had knowledge that users were engaging in criminal activity on the site. Specifically, two users on the site were targeting women and sexually violating them. In the court’s decision, it was determined that the website could, in fact, be held responsible for not warning a user of any potential harm. While in this specific case, it was discovered that Internet Brands had direct knowledge of a long history (5 years) of criminal activity by these users, there is concern that the ruling potentially sets a precedent of holding website owners responsible for communication between third-party users on its servers. Free speech advocates and civil liberties groups will be watching developments in this case very closely.

123

Previous Article

Judge Slashes Attorney Fees Over Google $90M Play Store Settlement Mismanagement

Read More
Jeff Watterson
100 Posts

Jeff Watterson

Jeff Watterson is a journalist that focuses on politics, investigative journalism, and technology news. When Jeff is not writing, which is his hobby, he enjoys fishing and hunting.

Don’t Miss It
Arizona January 11, 2025
Kelly Warner Law Firm Blames USA Herald for Arizona Bar Investigation

5/17/17 Based on the information released in The Washington Post article on 5/17/17, the USA Herald publishes another in-depth article that…

By – USA Herald
Arizona January 4, 2025
Aaron Kelly Law Firm Resorts To Attacking Former Client Again On KellyWarnerLaw.com – Pattern Recognized

Professor Volokh thereafter filed a bar complaint against Dan Warner with the Arizona Bar. This eventually led the ABA to…

By – Jeff Watterson
Arizona December 12, 2024
Arizona Bar Opens Investigation on Attorney Aaron Kelly

USA Herald recently reported on a developing story involving Attorneys Daniel Warner and Aaron Kelly. Both Warner and Kelly have…

By – Paul O'Neal
America March 12, 2026
Old Dominion University Shooting Investigated as Terrorism After Gunman Identified

ROTC Members Among the Injured Military officials confirmed that two of the wounded individuals are members of the Army Reserve…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 12, 2026
Gulf Travelers’ Jet Prices Soar as War Disrupts Middle East Air Travel

As conflict intensifies across the Middle East, a sudden and dramatic shift in air travel has unfolded. The escalating war…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 12, 2026
Shooting at Michigan Synagogue Leaves Suspect Dead After Security Confrontation

First Responders Treated at Area Hospitals Following the chaotic scene, Henry Ford Health said it was treating eight first responders…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 12, 2026
Stolen Military Drones And The Emerging Threat of Foreign UAV Attacks On The California Coast

By Samuel A. Lopez | USA Herald – A quiet warning issued to California law-enforcement agencies has raised a troubling…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 12, 2026
Hollywood’s “Disclosure Day” And Washington’s Silence Raise Questions About Timing of UFO Transparency

Earlier this year, Trump ordered federal agencies to review and release records related to UFO sightings, military encounters with unknown…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 12, 2026
The World Cup Security Reckoning: Trump Warns Iran Soccer Team About Safety As War Tensions Spill Into Global Sports

By Samuel A. Lopez | USA Herald – A short Truth-Social post from President Donald Trump on Thursday morning is now…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 12, 2026
The World Cup Security Reckoning: Trump Warns Iran Soccer Team About Safety As War Tensions Spill Into Global Sports

By Samuel A. Lopez | USA Herald – A short Truth-Social post from President Donald Trump on Thursday morning is now…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 12, 2026
Scientists Identify 22 Anomalies In Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS As It Leaves The Solar System

7. Jet Wobble GeometryThe observed wobbling motion of the anti-tail implies that the base of the jet lies close to…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 12, 2026
Iran Appears To Have Conducted Its First Major Cyberattack Against A U.S. Company, Since The War Began – New Front Opens Against American Healthcare

Public reporting has pointed to a likely abuse of Microsoft Intune-style device management functions. Sophos threat intelligence director Rafe Pilling…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 12, 2026
Hormuz Shock Hits U.S. Legal And Insurance Sectors As War Risk, Cargo Claims And Contract Fights Begin to Spread

The legal sector impact is just as significant, and in some ways more underreported. What experienced coverage lawyers and commercial…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 12, 2026
Beyond Gas Prices The Strait of Hormuz Crisis Could Hit Fertilizer, Plastics, Aluminum And Global Supply Chains

Plastics and petrochemicals are another underappreciated vulnerability. Middle Eastern producers ship enormous volumes of chemicals and plastics through this route,…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 11, 2026
Fani Willis Blocked From Trump Fee Fight As Georgia Judge Lets $16.8 Million Reimbursement Battle Move Forward

INSIDE THIS REPORT A Georgia judge has ruled that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis cannot re-enter the collapsed Trump…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 11, 2026
Cumulus Media Files for Chapter 11 as Radio Giant Moves to Cut Massive Debt

A Familiar Chapter in Cumulus’ Financial Story The bankruptcy marks the second time the broadcaster has sought court protection in…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 11, 2026
Gordie Howe Bridge Tolls Revealed Ahead of Spring Opening

Local Residents React to Pricing Windsor resident Dariuss Piatkoeski said the newly announced rates strike the right balance. “I think…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 11, 2026
Nasa Satellite to Crash to Earth as Spacecraft Re-enters Atmosphere

Meteor Strike in Germany Adds to Cosmic Drama The satellite’s predicted descent comes just days after another celestial surprise. On…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 11, 2026
Lux Aeterna $10M Seed Funding Fuels Ambitious Reusable Satellite Vision

Hypersonic testing On-orbit computing In-space manufacturing The startup has also signed multiple partnerships with U.S. government organizations exploring reusable spacecraft…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 11, 2026
Jupiter’s Shift Direction Lights Up the Night Sky Again

A Reminder of the Solar System’s Dance For astronomers and backyard stargazers alike, Jupiter’s shift direction is another reminder that…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 11, 2026
Google and Tesla Power Grid Initiative Targets Lower Energy Costs

Tech Industry Promises to Address Costs Technology companies have recently begun pledging to help prevent those costs from falling on…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 11, 2026
Trump’s Laser Talk Sparks New Questions About America’s Secret Arsenal

On the American side, the evidence also points to a military that is pushing hard into directed energy rather than…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 8, 2026
The Northern Lights Return

The Northern Lights have a chance to be visible from several northern U.S. states on Tuesday night, forecasters at the…

By – Jackie Allen
America March 8, 2026
February Unemployment Up as Job Losses Surprise Economists

According to the BLS: Producer prices rose 2.9% year-over-year through January 2026 Core PPI increased 3.6%, excluding food and energy…

By – Jackie Allen
America March 8, 2026
Late-Night Attack by Venezuelan National at Florida Beach

Officials noted that the suspect had overstayed his work visa at the time of the attack. For more details on…

By – Jackie Allen
America March 8, 2026
Trump’s War in Iran: Congress Confronts Escalation After U.S. Strikes

On the Republican side, most lawmakers appear to back Trump’s strategy. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), chair of the Senate Intelligence…

By – Jackie Allen
America February 28, 2026
U.S. And Israel Launch Major Strikes On Iran — What It Means For America

Continuation of military strikes if Iran persists in retaliatory attacks. Diplomacy or ceasefire negotiations if international pressure increases. A broader…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 11, 2026
Fani Willis Blocked From Trump Fee Fight As Georgia Judge Lets $16.8 Million Reimbursement Battle Move Forward

INSIDE THIS REPORT A Georgia judge has ruled that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis cannot re-enter the collapsed Trump…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 11, 2026
FBI Bulletin Raises Troubling Questions About California’s Readiness

San Diego would rank high on any common-sense list because of its naval significance. Naval Base San Diego is a…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 11, 2026
Google and Tesla Power Grid Initiative Targets Lower Energy Costs

Tech Industry Promises to Address Costs Technology companies have recently begun pledging to help prevent those costs from falling on…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 11, 2026
Medtronic to Buy Scientia Vascular in $550 Million Neurovascular Deal

Leaders See Expanded Global Impact For Scientia, the acquisition opens the door to a much larger stage. “Scientia has developed…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 11, 2026
Winklevoss Twins’ Bitcoin Transfer Sparks Market Speculation

Turbulence and Strategic Changes at Gemini The Winklevoss twins’ Bitcoin transfer also comes during a period of internal transition at…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 11, 2026
Alabama Man Fatal Shooting Death Sentence Commuted by Governor

In a rare act of clemency that halted an imminent execution, the Alabama man fatal shooting death sentence tied to…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America February 21, 2026
When The Files Are Finally Unsealed The Most Mind-Bending Truth May Not Be What We Expect

[USA HERALD] – There is a widespread assumption that if governments release their most highly classified files related to unidentified…

By – Samuel Lopez
America February 17, 2026
Civil Rights Icon Rev. Jesse Jackson Dies at 84 As President Trump Issues Personal Tribute

Even in later years, as illness softened his voice and slowed his step, Jackson remained active. In 2021, he was…

By – Samuel Lopez
America February 13, 2026
Clues to Savannah Guthrie Missing Mom’s Disappearance Found on Security System

Community Support Grows as Search Continues As the investigation intensifies, the local community has rallied around the family. Neighbors and…

By – Jackie Allen
America February 8, 2026
Mike Tyson Urges Americans to ‘Eat Real Food’ in Emotional Super Bowl Ad Highlighting Health Risks

Boxing legend Mike Tyson is using his platform ahead of Super Bowl 60 to address a personal and national health…

By – Tyler Brooks
America February 7, 2026
Deadly “Death Cap” Mushrooms in California Cause Multiple Deaths and Liver Transplants Amid Rare Super Bloom

California health officials are warning the public after four deaths and three liver transplants linked to the highly toxic death…

By – Ahmed Boughalleb
America February 7, 2026
From Migraines to Miracles: How Becca Valle Survived a Glioblastoma Diagnosis Against the Odds

Becca Valle, 41, thought her headaches were just migraines—until a sudden, unbearable pain revealed something far more serious. In September…

By – Tyler Brooks
America March 1, 2026
Cadillac Names Inaugural Formula 1 Car MAC-26 in Tribute to Mario Andretti Ahead of 2026 Australian Grand Prix Debut

Lowdon has previously spoken about Andretti’s early encouragement during the team’s formation stages, noting that the racing legend asked him…

By – Ahmed Boughalleb
America February 20, 2026
Norway Tops Medal Table After Day 13 at 2026 Winter Olympics as Team USA Surges Into Second Place

With 13 days complete at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, Norway sits atop the overall medal standings, collecting 34…

By – Ahmed Boughalleb
America February 18, 2026
Olympic Science Explained: How Figure Skaters Spin at Blinding Speeds Without Getting Dizzy

When Amber Glenn finishes her routine, the arena usually rises with her. The music builds, her blades carve a tight…

By – Tyler Brooks
America February 16, 2026
Olympic Villages Run Out of Condoms at 2026 Milan-Cortina Games

Condom supplies in the Olympic Villages at the 2026 Winter Games have been temporarily depleted, the Milan-Cortina organizing committee confirmed,…

By – Tyler Brooks
America February 12, 2026
Arizona Authorities Escalate Search for Savannah Guthrie’s Mom to a Criminal Investigation

USA TODAY’s live coverage: https://www.usatoday.com Pima County Sheriff’s Office: https://www.pimasheriff.org NBC News reporting: https://www.nbcnews.com As the investigation continues, officials say…

By – Jackie Allen
America February 10, 2026

This early classification, however, sparked significant criticism. Advocates argue that placing aegosexuality in this category not only misunderstood the experience…

By – Jackie Allen

No posts found.

No posts found.

No comments No comments yet. Be the first to comment!

Signup for the USA Herald
exclusive Newsletter