Erin McRandal, a digital PR executive with Make Lemonade, contacted us to explain how U.S. law provides a legal shield to protect AI chatbots.
"Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots are becoming increasingly popular in the digital space, as businesses strive to improve their customer experience and streamline operations," McRandal wrote. "However, with the rise of AI chatbots comes the potential risk of defamation claims against them. Fortunately, Section 230 of the US Communications Decency Act provides a legal shield for AI chatbots, protecting them against defamation claims."
The Communications Decency Act of 1996, provides immunity to online service providers and website owners from liability for content posted by their users, McRandal noted. "This means that if an AI chatbot is accused of defamation, the chatbot’s owner is protected from legal action," she added. "According to first-party data collated by wordenfirm.com, due to the implementation of Section 230 AI chatbots are less likely to be defamed or accused of spreading false information. In fact, the data shows that AI chatbots have only been involved in 2% of all defamation cases, compared to 32% for human users. The data highlights the importance of Section 230 in protecting AI chatbots from legal battles that can be both time-consuming and costly."
Andrea Worden, lawyer and founder of wordenfirm.com, added, "Section 230 has been a game-changer for AI chatbots, providing legal protection and allowing businesses to leverage this technology with confidence. It has revolutionized the way we interact with technology and has opened up new opportunities for businesses to improve their customer experience."
With Section 230 in place, McRandal concluded, AI chatbots are a powerful tool for businesses to enhance their customer experience and streamline operations. "They can provide personalized assistance, offer solutions, and make interactions more efficient," she wrote. "By protecting AI chatbots from legal battles, Section 230 is enabling businesses to leverage this technology with less risk and greater confidence."
Do you use chatbots in your business? If so, what do you use them for, and how have your customers responded? Get in touch at greensheet@greensheet.com. 
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