Washington – The Computer & Communications Industry Association filed amicus briefs in favor of Section 230 protections for app distributors choosing to offer apps containing simulated games of chance. The briefs for Google, Apple, and Meta in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit point out that Congress gave “a clear mandate in Section 230 barring digital services from being held liable as the publisher or speaker of third-party content” and that providing payment or monetization services is not excepted from Section 230’s protections.
Plaintiffs in the case have tried to claim that the offering of payment processing or monetization services is excluded from Section 230. In its amicus briefs, CCIA asserts that monetization is simply a tool to facilitate communication and content of others and argues that, if upheld, the consequences of that decision will sweep far beyond the particular parties in this litigation and would encompass virtually any online service that makes content available for a fee.
The following can be attributed to CCIA President & CEO Matt Schruers:
“Congress provided limited liability protections to companies to facilitate the communication and exchange of ideas on the internet. The District Court’s ruling in this case artificially rewrites federal law; Congress did not limit these assurances to non-profit speakers alone. The consequences of this decision would be felt by most internet users and any online service that facilitates access to content for a fee.”
