The central question to many Internet policy debates is whether Internet
intermediaries such as ISPs, content hosts, and search engines should bear legal
liability for or obligations to police third-party content. Intermediary
liability arises where governments or private litigants can hold technological
service providers liable for unlawful or harmful content disseminated by users
of those services. Gatekeeping obligations, such as
requirements that intermediaries filter or block access to content, can force
intermediaries to monitor or limit how users access or post material.
The threat of either liability or gatekeeping obligations reduces intermediaries’ willingness to host user-generated content, leads intermediaries to block even legal content, and inhibits innovation. Limiting such obligations and protecting intermediaries from liability for the expressive actions of third parties expands the space for online expression, encourages innovation in the development of new communications services, and creates more opportunities for local content, thereby supporting development of the information society.
The resources below are intended to support Internet advocates as they fight for policies that recognize these principles and urge governments to protect intermediaries as critical platforms for innovation, expression, and economic activity. Working together, we can advance policies to address unlawful or harmful online content without burdening intermediaries or restraining the exercise of human rights online. These resources are published with the intent that they be used, reused, modified, and extended to be most effective in a variety of contexts.
The threat of either liability or gatekeeping obligations reduces intermediaries’ willingness to host user-generated content, leads intermediaries to block even legal content, and inhibits innovation. Limiting such obligations and protecting intermediaries from liability for the expressive actions of third parties expands the space for online expression, encourages innovation in the development of new communications services, and creates more opportunities for local content, thereby supporting development of the information society.
The resources below are intended to support Internet advocates as they fight for policies that recognize these principles and urge governments to protect intermediaries as critical platforms for innovation, expression, and economic activity. Working together, we can advance policies to address unlawful or harmful online content without burdening intermediaries or restraining the exercise of human rights online. These resources are published with the intent that they be used, reused, modified, and extended to be most effective in a variety of contexts.
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