Federal judge unimpressed with Airbnb free speech argument

A federal judge rejected Airbnb’s argument that a San Francisco law violated their free speech rights. In a ruling on a preliminary in junction, the judge wrote that the law “…”does not regulate what can or cannot be said or posted in the listings. It creates no obligation on plaintiffs’ part to monitor, edit, withdraw or block the content supplied by hosts.” (Business Insider, November 8, 2016, by Biz Carson)

In attempting to regulate the company’s rentals, San Francisco’s law required Airbnb to monitor and verify information provided by the hosts renting out private residences. Airbnb claimed that under Section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act it was not the publisher of third party online  content and could not be held responsible for that content. The federal judge rejected that line of thinking writing that the law does not make Airbnb responsible for third party content but just that the third party registers with the city.  (Cincinnati.com, November 16, 2016, by Jack Greiner)