Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 11 DECEMBER 2013

Monitor Postings In Europe Or Face Liability

Reed Smith
Explore more from Reed Smith

So you operate a website or have a blog in Europe. You allow others to post comments and interact with your website or blog postings. There is, after all, freedom of expression in Europe, isn’t there?

European UnionMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Joseph Rosenbaum
Joseph Rosenbaum
Author LinkedIn connections

So you operate a website or have a blog in Europe. You allow others to post comments and interact with your website or blog postings. There is, after all, freedom of expression in Europe, isn't there? Well on October 10 (2013), the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that if you don't monitor, censor or moderate postings by others on your website or blog, you may well have legal liability and responsibility – especially if the visitors post offensive comments.

In the case of Delfi AS v. Estonia, the Estonian news website (Delfi) ran a story about a ferry that provoked heated controversy in the nation. Many posts and comments contained threatening and offensive language, and many were anonymous. The ferry operator sued Delfi for failing to prevent these comments from becoming public and for protecting the identity of the individuals who posted such threats and abusive language. The Estonian court agreed with the ferry operator and ordered Delfi to pay damages.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

California Requires Disclosure Of AI-Generated People In Advertising

California has enacted a groundbreaking AI disclosure law requiring advertisers to clearly identify when synthetic performers appear in their marketing materials. The legislation, set to take effect in 2027, includes a private right of enforcement that could potentially open the door to class action litigation against brands using AI-generated performers without proper disclosure.
United StatesMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Foley Hoag LLP
Foley Hoag LLP
Article

FCC Revises TCPA Consent Revocation Rules: Exclusive Opt-Out Methods, Category-Specific Revocations, And Other Key Changes

The Federal Communications Commission has unanimously approved sweeping changes to its Telephone Consumer Protection Act consent revocation rules, fundamentally altering how businesses must handle consumer opt-out requests for calls and texts. These new regulations replace the controversial 2024 "revoke all" rule with more flexible options that allow companies to designate exclusive opt-out methods while distinguishing between marketing and informational messages.
United StatesMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Article

FCC Tightens Equipment Rules

The Federal Communications Commission has adopted sweeping new restrictions targeting equipment containing components from entities on its Covered List, fundamentally reshaping how manufacturers, online marketplaces, and equipment modifiers must approach FCC compliance. These rules establish unprecedented prohibitions on logic-bearing hardware components, impose strict display requirements for e-commerce platforms, and clarify when existing authorizations can support equipment modifications.
United StatesMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Steptoe LLP
Steptoe LLP
Article

Nationwide EAS Test Coming November 17, 2026

FEMA and the FCC will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System on November 17, 2026, requiring participation from all radio and television stations, cable systems, and satellite services. EAS Participants must file three separate forms through the EAS Test Reporting System, with specific deadlines ranging from October 30, 2026, through January 2027. Certain translator and repeater stations are exempt from the registration and filing requirements.
United StatesMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Wiley Rein
Wiley Rein