What is the purpose of the Communications Decency Act?
The Communications Decency Act (CDA) is a law that was passed in 1996 to protect Internet users from the unregulated and potentially harmful content that may be posted online by others. The purpose of the CDA was to give Internet service providers (ISPs) and website operators protection from being held liable for the content that their users or customers post online - even if that content is inaccurate, offensive, or illegal. The CDA also provides ISPs with immunity from being held liable for any “good faith” content moderation activities they choose to engage in. The CDA was also enacted to protect Internet users from being subjected to deceptive and unfair marketing practices. It gives the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) authority to investigate and take legal action against companies that use unfair and deceptive tactics in their advertising and marketing campaigns. This includes activities such as false advertising, bait-and-switch tactics, and failure to display accurate pricing information. By providing legal protection to ISPs and website operators, the Communications Decency Act seeks to promote open and free communication online. It also helps to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive marketing practices. This law is especially important for consumers in states like California, where there is currently no law specifically governing unfair competition.
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