The Twenty-Six Words That Created the Internet

The level of misunderstanding about Section 230 in media and government is astounding. All they have to do is read Kosseff's book to clear up their misunderstanding. The New York Times made a colossal mistake confusing Section 230 with the First Amendment. I hear media people all the time thinking they can't moderate comments because of Section 230 (the opposite is true). I see politicians going after Section 230 because they think it is the root of the net's problems (they are dead wrong). Section 230 is our best protection of free expression and human dignity on the net, for as Kosseff clearly explains, it is intended to enable the public conversation (by not making platforms -- including news organizations -- liable for what others do on their sites) and it is also intended to empower platforms and media companies to moderate what people do on their sites to their own standards. The law is short and clear and is vital to the future of the net and the public conversation on it.Kosseff puts forward an excellent history of the development of legislation and case law on free expression in books, movies, and other media. He talks with the creators of Section 230 and explains their goals and motives. He outlines the debate about the law.That debate is now reaching a critical phase in both media and Washington. Thus Kosseff's book is a document of urgent importance. I wish some rich person would come along to buy every member of Congress and every news organization a copy so they don't keep screwing this up.

It is no surprise that Kosseff was nominated for a Pulitzer during his time as a journalist. He is a witty storyteller and a thoughtful legal scholar who teaches us about Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the law that has given us much of the internet we know today but that also by my lights needs reexamination. This is a fantastic work--if you care about online speech, read this.

It was an interesting and well written book. It took a subject that could be boring or difficult for someone outside of the field to read and made it understandable and enjoyable to read. There are parts that truly do an excellent job of being humorous without make light of serious issues.

Many are calling for regulation of the tech industry. This book does an excellent job of outlining the “it’s not that simple” aspect of the debate. Some say big tech is doing too much to silence legitimate conversations and others say they are not doing enough to combat hate speech and false information.Regardless of which side you fall on it is important to know the history and this book is a well written account. Professor Kosseff does an excellent job of both presenting the history of Section 230, but also mixing in his well reasoned opinions about how we should proceed. Most importantly posing the question of if you don’t want big tech regulating the internet, you better think long and hard about who you do want, and what that will look like.This should be a mandatory read for any tech reporter who even utters the words “Section 230”. Thanks for the information.

This book provides a detailed history of how section 230 if the Communications Decency Act came to be, its importance and its problems as the industry of the Internet matures. While it is ultimately a defense of that law, it is an eyes wide open look at it as well. It is not a prophet's telling of what to do, but instead an informative read that gives the reader an ability to assess what might be done to address the issues 230 raises.

I really didn’t expect this level of enjoyment from reading a book about a serious law material. This book is entertaining almost like a thrilling mini series to me due to the author’s great storytelling. Vivid arguments in various courtrooms over decades, sad stories of victims, some hilarious cases (especially Smith), unjust and unfair cases, interesting judges, … I just enjoyed reading them over cover to cover.It is definitely educational. I don't have any legal background and I hardly knew Section 230. After the joyful reading, I could learn history, importance and main issues of Section 230. I believe it is a must-read to many people including software engineers like me.I couldn’t be comfortable when the author compared the amount of benefit of Section 230, which has promoted proliferation of US Internet business, to the amount of suffering of women, children, and unfairly defamed people. However, I believe the author, on purpose, provoked this discussion. Including his own sincere opinion, he introduced various discussions deeply in later chapters, which helped me to think a lot.

This book should be required reading for anyone calling for change on Section 230.There has been plenty of calling for Section 230 abolishment, reform, or to be the same.Much of the conversation doesn’t have the background of why it was made, or implications on what would actually happen if it were to be abolished.It wasn’t dull for being a book about 26 words that were jammed into law.

I learned a great deal about the history of legal battles around limiting liability for internet platforms. The book presents a balanced view of the many implications that any particular policy choice might generate. There is no path that does not create some unfairness or other negative consequences and I now have a better understanding of these trade offs.

This book is an engaging and comprehensive explanation of the history and development of the CDA - one of the most important laws governing the Internet as we know it today.