HomeAway and Airbnb v. City of Santa Monica Brief of Amici Curiae Internet, Business, and Local Government Law Professors

38 Pages Posted: 12 Jun 2018

See all articles by Abbey Stemler

Abbey Stemler

Indiana University - Kelley School of Business - Department of Business Law; Harvard University - Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society

Matthew C. Turk

Indiana University - Kelley School of Business

Date Written: May 23, 2018

Abstract

The Communications Decency Act (CDA) has rightly been credited as the law that gave us the modern Internet, and its contributions to innovation cannot be overstated. Its main mechanism for doing so is found in Section 230 of the CDA — a provision that grants immunity to providers and users of interactive computer services from certain legal claims. 47 U.S.C. § 230. Section 230 has thereby allowed Internet and platform-based businesses (“platforms”) like Appellants, Airbnb and HomeAway, to flourish, with wide-ranging benefits to society. But while the coverage of Section 230 is undeniably broad, it is not unlimited. The City of Santa Monica Ordinance 2535CCS (the “Ordinance”) exemplifies the kind of regulations that are outside of Section 230’s scope.

Put simply, the CDA does not preempt all regulation of the Internet. Neither does it provide blanket immunity from liability for platforms, like Airbnb and HomeAway, that facilitate transactions between users. What Section 230 does preempt is any regulation that imposes liability for the “publishing” function that those platforms perform on behalf of users. Because Airbnb and HomeAway engage in a wide range of transactional services and other activities that do not resemble the publishing of online content, even when that publishing function is broadly construed, they are not automatically immune from regulation as a consequence of Section 230. This is true regardless of the language in the statute’s findings and policy provisions. That language is highly aspirational and can only be understood in light of Section 230’s overall statutory structure, substantive terms and text, and the context in which it was enacted. These propositions should be uncontroversial and provide a starting point for answering the questions presented in this case.

The central concept that limits the scope of Section 230 is “publishing activities.” Although the statute does not explicitly define “publishing” that does not mean there is no legal basis for distinguishing what constitutes an Internet platform’s publishing activities from its non-publishing functions. That basis is found in this Circuit’s prior decisions interpreting Section 230, which determined that publishing amounts to “reviewing, editing, and deciding whether to publish or to withdraw from publication third-party content.”

The district court applied the same standard when deciding that the Ordinance does not impose liability on Airbnb and HomeAway. Specifically, it focused on the two core functions of publishing activity that are relevant for internet platforms: (a) “monitoring” of third-party content featured on their websites; and (b) “removal” of that same content. Airbnb and HomeAway do not contest that these are the key legal criteria. Instead they argue that the Ordinance requires them to monitor or remove content uploaded by their users. But the regulation does no such thing. It only prohibits Airbnb and HomeAway from entering into brokering contracts with short-term lessees (“hosts”) who are not properly licensed under local law. Because the substantive purpose of the Ordinance is to regulate the non-publishing activities of Airbnb and HomeAway, it does not trigger Section 230’s immunity.

A limited scope for Section 230 immunity is not only well-settled as a matter of law, but also common sense as a matter of policy. Platforms such as Airbnb and HomeAway increasingly coordinate and facilitate physical activities in spheres (tourism, transportation, food services, and so on) that fall within the traditional purview of state and local governments. The mere fact that those corporations conduct some of their business on the Internet does not — and should not — immunize them from following regulations that address the market failures and other third-party harms that arise from non-publishing conduct. The principles of efficiency and fault that underpin most forms of business regulation apply with full force to the economic activities that platforms engage in as well. Denying local governments the authority to regulate the business practices of platforms that operate within their jurisdictions threatens the well-being of communities and upsets the proper balance between federal and state power.

Keywords: Sharing Economy, Uber, Airbnb, Lyft, eBay, Section 230, Communications Decency Act, 47 USC 230, Regulation, Internet, Internet Immunity, User-Generated content, Homesharing, Local Regulation

Suggested Citation

Stemler, Abbey and Turk, Matthew C., HomeAway and Airbnb v. City of Santa Monica Brief of Amici Curiae Internet, Business, and Local Government Law Professors (May 23, 2018). Kelley School of Business Research Paper No. 18-49, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3184930

Abbey Stemler (Contact Author)

Indiana University - Kelley School of Business - Department of Business Law ( email )

Bloomington, IN 47405
United States

Harvard University - Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society ( email )

Harvard Law School
23 Everett, 2nd Floor
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

HOME PAGE: http://https://cyber.harvard.edu/people/abbey-stemler

Matthew C. Turk

Indiana University - Kelley School of Business ( email )

1309 E. 10th Street
Rm. HH4080
Bloomington, IA 47405
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
120
Abstract Views
1,759
Rank
417,769
PlumX Metrics