Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
In U.S. Section 230 terminology, the defined term is information content provider, not “internet content provider.” It means a person or entity responsible, in whole or in part, for creating or developing information provided through the internet or another interactive computer service. The distinction matters because Section 230 defines content responsibility separately from operating or enabling an online service.
What is an information content provider under U.S. law?
Section 230(f)(3) of the Communications Decency Act defines an “information content provider” as “any person or entity that is responsible, in whole or in part, for the creation or development of information provided through the Internet or any other interactive computer service.” The current preliminary text of 47 U.S.C. § 230 supplies this definition.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Internet Law: Cases & Problems | $75.10 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Internet Law: Cases & Materials (2025 Edition) | $20.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Law and the Internet | $96.20 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Law 101: An Easy-to-Understand Guide to Everyday Law Basics and Answers to Legal Questions (Law Book... | $11.67 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Internet Law in a Nutshell | $8.37 | Buy on Amazon |
In plain language, the term concerns responsibility for creating or developing the particular information at issue. It can describe a person or an organization, and responsibility may be partial; the statutory wording does not limit it to whoever publishes or hosts a complete item. Whether the category applies in a particular dispute depends on the applicable law, the claim, and the facts.
Recommended Free Tools
How is that different from an interactive computer service?
Section 230(f)(2) separately defines an “interactive computer service” as an information service, system, or access software provider that provides or enables computer access by multiple users to a computer server. That category concerns providing or enabling access, rather than responsibility for creating or developing information. Both definitions appear in Section 230.
#1 Best Overall
These roles are not necessarily mutually exclusive. An organization may operate an online service and also be responsible for creating or developing particular information. The relevant question is what role it played with respect to the specific content and conduct involved, not simply what label it uses.
Is “internet content provider” a universal legal definition?
No. The phrase may be used informally, but it should not be treated as one universal legal term. The U.S. statute uses “information content provider.” Other jurisdictions define related concepts differently and may focus on hosting or the content itself.
For example, a 2016 compilation of Australia’s Broadcasting Services Act 1992 defined “internet content” and “internet content host” in its own statutory framework. That compilation is historical; it should not be relied on as a statement of current Australian law.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Why might the wording matter?
The statutory definition identifies a category; the words alone do not decide a legal dispute or establish what consequences follow. The governing jurisdiction, the particular claim, and the facts about who created or developed the information all matter. When discussing U.S. Section 230, use its exact term—“information content provider”—and distinguish that content-related role from providing access to an online service.
Rank #3
A 1996 federal district court opinion used “content provider” broadly for an Internet speaker who transmits or makes content available, while distinguishing that usage from Section 230’s statutory term. It is historical context, not a substitute for the statute’s wording. Shea on Behalf of American Reporter v. Reno.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
