Google Protected by Section 230, Says Calif. Court Decision

Google is protected by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act from claims by Prager University that the platform restricted ads and access to Prager’s YouTube videos over the university’s political and religious views, said a ruling from California’s Court of Appeal for the 6th Appellate District Monday. The ruling upheld a similar decision from a lower court. The appeals court rejected Prager arguments that Google is an information provider, that it was liable due to language in its terms of service, and that Section 230 is unconstitutional. “To the extent Prager’s claims principally rest on allegations that defendants violated a duty under state law to exercise their editorial control in a particular manner, defendants are immune under section 230 from the claims Prager brings in this suit,” said the court. “Social media platforms are generally permitted to decide for themselves what content to publish.”