網路言論傳播中介者責任與其免責規範之研究－以美國通訊端正法實務發展爲中心

Legal Study on Important Cases of Communication Decency Act of U.S

郭戎晉

《科技法律透析》 23卷4期 (2011/04) Pp. 20-44

https://doi.org/10.7062/STLR.201104.0020

摘要

1995年美國「國家科學基金會」全面開放網路商業使用後，聯邦政府爲促進網路持續發展，並避免網路業者負擔過重之責任，於隔年通過「通訊端正法」。其中，依據該法第230條第(c)項第1款規定，互動式電腦服務的提供者或使用者，就非出於已的資訊內容，不應被視爲出版人及發表人。此一規定被稱作「善良撒馬利亞人條款」的免責規範，隨著網路發展日趨多樣化，從ISP業者、大型網路商家，乃至於一般性網站，均不乏援引「通訊端正法」而就他人侵權資訊加以免責之案例。而當整體的網路環境，邁入以「網路使用者」爲主的Web 2.0時代後，在網路世界更加頻繁充斥著非出於已的言論之際，「通訊端正法」保護網路服務發展的立法原意，似應有更大的發揮與作用。然而，此一只消符合互動式電腦服務提供者或使用者定義，即得以予以免責的適用原則，歷來並不乏質疑觀點，而聯邦第九巡迴上訴法院於Roommates.com一案中，更提出了異於過往之見解，對於Web 2.0乃至於整體網路發展而言，其產生之影響殊值關注。近年來網路環境資訊中介者所負責任如何認定，在我國亦備受重視，但我國迄今尚無類似「通訊端正法」免責條款之設計，本文嘗試透過美國實務案例的分析研究，探討網路言論傳播中介者責任及其免責規範之發展趨勢與應對思維，並提出筆者個人看法，以期作爲我國面對相似問題時之參考。

關鍵字

通訊端正法 ； 善良撒馬利亞人條款 ； Web 2.0 ； 網路服務提供者 ； 言論傳播

並列摘要

With the commercialization of the internet in 1990s, the U.S. Federal Government passed the Communication Decency Act (CDA) in 1996. For the purpose to eliminate the chilling effect of Stratton Oakmont case and to facilitate the ongoing development of internet, Section 230 of CDA has been interpreted to say that operators and users of internet services are not to be construed as publishers or speakers and thus not legally liable for the words and other information uploaded by third parties. Through cases, the so-called ”Good Samaritan” provision protects not only ISPs, but also common websites. And since the internet society developing from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0 environment, the usage of internet resource is no longer belong only to the ISPs, also belong to internet users. For providers or users of interactive computer services, the CDA seems to play a more important role under Web 2.0 era. But the basic principle that fill the definition of ”provider or user of an interactive computer service” that could apply to the Good Samaritan provision has facing strong criticisms in recent years, and in Fair Housing Council v. Roommates.com, the 9th circuit court even pointed out a whole new opinion differed from former cases in 2008. In this article, the author will introduce and analyze representative cases before and after CDA, and on the basis of materials above, the author will further survey two recent cases related to Web 2.0 applications: Craigslist and Roommates.com and provide some suggestions toward responsibility of information communications. Hopefully, through this research, this article could give the society a clear image of Web 2.0 era and provide a depth perception to the related legal challenges.

並列關鍵字

Communication Decency Act ； Good Samaritan Provision ； Web 2.0 ； Internet Service Provider ； Information Communication

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