Craigslist Calls Itself a “Publisher” that Depends on 230
There are many online businesses that wholly depend on how they’re not targeted for the content uploaded by users, and it’s not just the largest social media platforms. A whole range of websites and tech companies, from Etsy, to Pinterest, to Roblox, and Vimeo, came together in one brief to argue that defeating 230 wouldn’t just hurt the “handful of large social media platforms” it would “disrupt the basic operation of the entire internet.” The sites further argued that without 230 “even a website’s users could be held liable for content created by other people.” This is similar to what Google has said, inviting the idea that users who like, comment, or repost content could be held liable for it.
ZipRecruiter, Yelp, and even the venerable Craigslist also filed separate briefs in support of 230.
Craiglist called itself an extension of the classified ads seen in newspapers for centuries, adding this means it fills a classic “‘publisher’ function.” The company said its functions letting users organize and filter user-generated content on the site are all protected under Section 230. Most importantly, the company said that there’s no inherent difference between somebody “searching” for content and a company “recommending” content since both are ways of organizing and prioritizing the vast quantities of information online.
