The Liability of ISPs
An internet service provider (ISP) offers Internet connectivity and other services to customers. However, not all these customers are law-abiding citizens, and occasionally an ISP can be held responsible for their customers' actions and words.
Other People Are Reading
-
Copyright
-
In some cases, ISPs can be held responsible for copyright infringement committed using their servers or other equipment. Although courts often side with the ISP, they can technically be held liable for any unauthorized materials distributed through or stored on their servers. Generally, the less involved the ISP is with the servers and files, the less liable they are.
Privacy and Fraud
-
ISPs are generally liable for protecting their customers. An ISP can be held accountable for upholding service contracts and ensuring customers receive the agreed-upon services. ISPs are also liable for protecting private customer information. Some lawsuits under the Digital Millenium Copyright Act have successfully obtained customer data from ISPs, but ISPs still try to keep details as private as possible.
-
Slander and Defamation
-
ISPs can be held liable for any defamatory statements distributed through their servers if the courts determine the ISP is a content provider and responsible for the creation of information. ISPs are not liable for slander if the court finds they are a content distributor or interactive computer service.
-
References
- Photo Credit network connection image by sumos from Fotolia.com
