Stanford Law School’s Center for Internet and Society Launch the World Intermediary Liability Map 2.0

-- Updated version of online WILMap provides improved functionality in tracking global online liability laws --

May 16, 2018 -- The Stanford Center for Internet and Society (CIS) announced today the launch of its new and improved World Intermediary Liability Map. Known as the WILMap, this online resource brings together a global team of expert volunteers who track the rapidly changing laws and developments shaping online speech and platform responsibility around the world. To understand what Germany’s new “hate speech” law says, or how the “Right to Be Forgotten” is expanding under the GDPR and around the world, the WILMap is a convenient and constantly evolving resource to help interested parties navigate online liability laws.

“Intermediary liability laws provide internet companies like Facebook, Google, CloudFlare, or your local ISP, with information on the legal responsibility they may have for the content shared by their users,” said Stanford CIS Fellow Luiz Fernando Marrey Moncau, who oversaw development of the new WILMap. Daphne Keller, Director of Intermediary Liability, CIS, added, “If you use the Internet to speak, look for information, run a business, or maintain contact with friends, then intermediary liability laws affect you. The WILMap is an unparalleled resource for anyone operating under these laws.” Moncau and Keller emphasized that, while the WILMap can’t perfectly capture the world’s laws, the launch is a great opportunity to bring new contributors on board to add more content.

Originally launched in 2014, the WILMap provides summaries of case law, statutes, proposed laws, and other developments around the world that related to online liability. The new version of WILMap offers greatly improved functionality and content, including overviews of key topics, advanced search functionality, and visual representation of global development through mapping “layers.” Examples include:

The WILMap is kept up to date by an amazing team of contributors around the world. It is currently coordinated by Luiz Fernando Marrey Moncau and was originally developed by Giancarlo F Frosio.

“Given today’s public attention and widespread sense of political urgency regarding online content and platform responsibility, the WILMap will be a key resource for policymakers, researchers, advocates, and companies,” said Moncau.

Click here to access the WILMap. Click here for a WILMap Q&A.

About Stanford Law School

Stanford Law School is one of the nation’s leading institutions for legal scholarship and education. Its alumni are among the most influential decision makers in law, politics, business and high technology. Faculty members argue before the Supreme Court, testify before Congress, produce outstanding legal scholarship and empirical analysis, and contribute regularly to the nation’s press as legal and policy experts. Stanford Law School has established a new model for legal education that provides rigorous interdisciplinary training, hands-on experience, global perspective and focus on public service, spearheading a movement for change.

About the Stanford Center for Internet and Society

The Center for Internet and Society (CIS) is a public interest technology law and policy program at Stanford Law School and a part of Law, Science and Technology Program at Stanford Law School. CIS brings together scholars, academics, legislators, students, programmers, security researchers, and scientists to study the interaction of new technologies and the law and to examine how the synergy between the two can either promote or harm public goods like free speech, innovation, privacy, public commons, diversity, and scientific inquiry. CIS strives to improve both technology and law, encouraging decision makers to design both as a means to further democratic values. CIS provides law students and the general public with educational resources and analyses of policy issues arising at the intersection of law, technology and the public interest. CIS also sponsors a range of public events including a speaker series, conferences and workshops. CIS was founded by Lawrence Lessig in 2000.

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