New EU Court of Justice Ruling on Platform Liability Could Cause Collateral Damage to Freedom of Expression
Intermediary liability laws around the world recognize that social media platforms, search engines, and other online service providers have become an integral part of our lives: they shape how we access information, communicate with others and participate in public debate, and foster innovation online. These laws generally shield platforms, to varying degrees, from legal liability for user…
In a recent EU Court of Justice ruling, online intermediaries could lose their liability protections for hosting user content. This decision, concerning the Coyote System case, could have significant implications for freedom of expression. The EU has traditionally shielded platforms like social media and search engines from legal responsibility for user-generated speech.
However, the court's new test may deem intermediaries as active participants in disseminating content, thereby stripping them of their safe harbor. This could lead to platforms needing to proactively monitor and filter user speech to avoid legal repercussions, potentially undermining the open exchange of ideas online.
Written by urgent.news from EFF Deeplinks's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
