Hey everyone. Law.com's Ian Lopez here with the week's major events from law's intersection with technology (including law firms weighing in on autonomous vehicle legislation). We've got a lot in store for you today, too. First up, Grindr's key role in a consequential Section 230 spat. Also on deck, a look at expunged criminal records popping up online. And, why an SEC commissioner has been nicknamed “CryptoMom.”

Hope your year is going well so far. Drop me a line. Email: [email protected]. Twitter: @IanMichaelLopez.


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Grindr & 'Troll's Lawyer' Square Off, Over Future of Web Immunity?

Here's a novel question: Does an app with geolocation abilities, and that could be perceived as generating its own content, qualify as an interactive computer service as defined by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act?

Attorney Tor Ekeland—dubbed 'The Troll's Lawyer' for previously repping controversial internet personalities—brought that question before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in reviving a harassment suit against dating app company Grindr. The lower court tossed the case under Section 230 immunity grounds (i.e., those that protect companies like Facebook from liability over content published by users.)