By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 8-16-21
Google has asked an Ohio court to dismiss a suit filed by the state’s attorney general that attempts to designate the company a common carrier. Instead, said Google, it is a publisher whose responses to user queries are “editorial decisions” protected by the First Amendment and that the state can’t try to tell it what results it must display.
That distinguishes Google from social media giants arguing vociferously – in order to preserve their Sec. 230 immunity from civil liability over third-party content – that they are not publishers.
In seeking the dismissal, Google told a Delaware County (Ohio) civil (common pleas) court that the company does not bear even a passing resemblance to the definition of a common carrier – an entity that transports goods or services – including telecommunications, water, or electricity – for a fee. » Read More