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Dangerous Ideas Dept: Hillary Rosen wants ISP Liability
Posted by Paul Szynol on Sunday, January 19 @ 10:32:07 EST Free Expression
It's by now well established doctrine that ISPs, unless they ignore legitimate cease and desist letters, are generally not responsible for the content they deliver to users. There are plenty of very good reasons for this treatment of ISPs, not least of which is the fear of chilling free speech.

According to C|Net, however, RIAA's Hillary Rosen may think otherwise. In her speech at the Midem music conference, she reportedly asserted, "We will hold ISPs more accountable."

It's unclear what this statement means exactly, but the idea of holding ISPs accountable for content delivery -- and that seems to be the implication -- is the first step down a slippery slope. If ISPs are in constant fear of litigation for providing access to the wrong content, they will be forced to provide content only from the safest sources. Internet users' access to information will be egregiously and unnecessarily restricted. Forcing ISPs to filter content before making it available to users would effectively erect a new version of China's Great Firewall--right here in the U.S.

 
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