by Josh King, General Counsel, RealSelf
President Trump signed an Executive Order yesterday addressing social media companies. That order—and subsequent tweets by the President—focuses on CDA 230, the federal law that provides immunity for websites when posting and moderating third party content.
We have started hearing from providers wondering whether this means that RealSelf will no longer post user reviews, patient questions, or comments. It does not. The President’s Executive Order directs various government agencies to review compliance with the law and develop proposals for new legislation. The Executive Order does not—and cannot—unilaterally change how CDA 230 works.
So with respect to user-generated content on RealSelf, it continues to be business as usual. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.
The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice.
About the author
Josh King is the General Counsel for RealSelf, the web’s leading resource for consumers researching aesthetic procedures. Prior to joining RealSelf, he spent over a decade as Chief Legal Officer at Avvo, helping that consumer online legal resource grow from tiny startup to industry leader. Josh regularly speaks and writes on issues relating to digital media, communications, and professional ethics. He’s also been known to go on about bike commuting, politics, bourbon, and traveling. Read more of Josh’s thoughts on social media and the regulation of professional speech at his aptly titled blog, “Socially Awkward”.
