The US Supreme Court to hear two intermediary liability cases

The US Supreme Court agreed to hear two important cases that will decide the future of intermediary liability in the USA.

The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear two cases on the scope of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which serves as the liability shield for internet companies against third party content. In Gonzalez v. Google, the Court will decide whether Google keeps its Section 230 protection when making targeted recommendations of third-party content. In Twitter, Inc. v. Taamneh, the Court will deliberate whether internet companies could be held to aid and abet international terrorism, in spite of their Section 230 immunity, if they allow ISIS to use their platforms.

The weakening or removal of Section 230 immunity may result in changes of current business models and violate company free speech rights, the technical companies contend. Meanwhile, conservative groups claim that these cases may help their efforts to combat technical company discrimination against them.