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IBM Opposes Intermediary Liability Protections in NAFTA

IBM opposes including intermediary liability protections -- like those contained in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act -- in updates currently under consideration in North American Free Trade Agreement negotiations, announced IBM Vice President-Government and Regulatory Affairs Christopher Padilla…

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Thursday. With those protections, online platforms are free from liability for user content. As evidenced by the recent House approval of Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (HR-1865) (see 1802270057), “there is no longer a U.S. consensus that internet media companies should enjoy automatic blanket immunity from legal liability,” Padilla said, arguing it’s nonsensical to export a legal model that's increasingly being questioned domestically. Internet Association Senior Vice President-Global Government Affairs Melika Carroll emailed a statement Friday, saying the entire tech sector and broader business community continue to support intermediary liability protections in trade agreements. “These provisions preserve free speech, benefit consumers around the world, and enable untold value for American entrepreneurs well beyond the internet economy,” Carroll said.