Appeals Court Puts Big Tech's Section 230 Immunity In Its Crosshairs

Big Tech and the tyrants of social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google, etc.) may be in big doo-doo if the U.S. Appeals Court of the Second Circuit in New York rules against them concerning their Section 230 immunity. 

The Epoch Times reported:

A little-watched civil rights case that threatens Silicon Valley’s Section 230 immunity took a huge step forward on July 16, as an appeals court that rarely does so agreed to review a lower court’s decision.

The U.S. Appeals Court for the Second Circuit in New York agreed to review a lower court’s ruling that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (CDA) protects Big Tech companies such as Vimeo from civil rights liability in censorship cases.

Big Tech censorship became a hot button issue during the 2020 presidential campaign when then-President Donald Trump was selectively censored by Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook.

The controversy became especially heated late in the campaign when a New York Post series of news articles regarding the allegedly corrupt business dealings of President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, was banned by the Big Tech giants.

Trump has filed a class-action lawsuit in federal court against the firms that censored him. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has also been the most vocal of multiple congressional conservative Republican critics of Section 230 immunity.

The case of Domen v. Vimeo came about after Vimeo, an Internet video-hosting company, terminated Church United’s video streaming activities after it featured videos of five men and women who left the gay lifestyle to pursue their Christian faith. Vimeo claimed that its terms of service bar streaming videos that promote sexual orientation change therapy. Church United is led by Pastor Jim Domen.

A federal district court had previously held that Section 230 exempted firms such as Vimeo from civil liability and a three-judge panel of the Second Circuit upheld the lower court’s ruling.

However, as a result of the July 16 decision, the panel’s ruling will be reheard before the entire Second Circuit. The Second Circuit covers six federal district courts in three states, including New York, Connecticut, and Vermont.

To read more, go here. 

A Mind-Blowing Japan Video

Above, scenes like this of the Tokyo Skytree are featured in the video. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I've seen many videos on Japan over the years, some very good and some not so, but a new 4-minute video that has been posted at Vulcanpost.com by Vincent Urban is excellent. 

As the title of the post says, it will "blow your mind."

The accompanying text with the video states:

Japan is arguably one of the countries with an everlasting vibrant vibe that makes visitors want to stay, and locals never want to leave. Their fast-paced lifestyle collides beautifully with their olden day culture and it is a seamless blend between modern and tradition that makes Japan a unique place to be. I’ve never set foot in Japan in my entire life, but how do I know this? 

Vimeo user Vincent Urban recently released a 4-minute long video on his account about his 3 week travel in Japan. The freelance film maker and video editor put his set of skills to use with his footage of the country. Interesting little clips of geishas, trains, dance, and bright lights encapsulates what Japan is all about—in just 4 minutes.

To see the video, go here. You'll be glad you did!