roundtable: Communications Decency Act of 1995 - Carriers Liable for Content?

roundtable: Communications Decency Act of 1995 - Carriers Liable for Content?

Communications Decency Act of 1995 - Carriers Liable for Content?

Michael Chui (mchui@cs.indiana.edu)
Wed, 08 Feb 1995 23:56:56 -0500 

Message-Id: <9502090456.AA15721@a.cni.org>
To: roundtable@cni.org
Subject: Communications Decency Act of 1995 - Carriers Liable for Content?
Date: Wed, 08 Feb 1995 23:56:56 -0500
From: Michael Chui <mchui@cs.indiana.edu>


        Senators Exon and Gorton have introduced S.314 (aka the
Communications Decency Act of 1995): "To protect the public from misuse
of the telecommunications network and telecommunications devices and
facilities."  From Sec. 2:

         (B) by striking out `makes any comment, request, suggestion,
             or proposal' in subparagraph (A) and inserting `makes,
             transmits, or otherwise makes available any comment,
             request, suggestion, proposal, image, or other
             communication';

        Inserting the word "transmits" appears to make telecommunications
carriers (e.g. telephone companies, BBS operators, Internet service 
providers) liable for content, which will produce a chilling effect on 
speech.  Further analysis, anyone?

Michael Chui
mchui@cs.indiana.edu

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