Hello, thanks for listening to SEO tips today.
Today’s tip is focused on paying attention to the larger legislative picture that might impact you as a digital marketer.
You might have followed the news that Trump signed an executive order focused on Twitter’s censuring of some of his tweets, but were you aware that his order could impact sites with user-generated content?
Based on a copy of the order, it includes sites like: blogs, recipe sites, review sites, e-commerce sites, and online forums. While the Executive order is focused on Facebook and Twitter, the scope of the order includes all websites with user-generated content (UGC).
“Sec. 7. Definition. For purposes of this order, the term “online platform” means any website or application that allows users to create and share content or engage in social networking or any general search engine.”
It could threaten the Common Decency Act., which according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF):
“CDA 230 also offers its legal shield to bloggers who act as intermediaries by hosting comments on their blogs. Under the law, bloggers are not liable for comments left by readers, the work of guest bloggers, tips sent via email, or information received through RSS feeds. This legal protection can still hold even if a blogger is aware of the objectionable content or makes editorial judgments.”
And the impact?
Here’s a quote from the Search Engine Journal article:
“According to the executive order, a publisher who restricts “access to content that it considers to be ‘obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, excessively violent, harassing or otherwise objectionable…” might be subject to having their legal immunity lifted if they fail to provide adequate notice, reasoned explanation, or an opportunity for a hearing.”
Everyone in digital marketing will have to keep an eye on this one.
Thanks for listening. Come back tomorrow for another SEO tip.
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