Author Archives: Paul Levy

Phoenix NAP’s Response to Kasim Reed Shows Its Unreliability as a Data Center

by Paul Alan Levy The recent response by PhoenixNAP to a takedown demand from Kasim Reed, the mayor of Atlanta Georgia, showed its Internet customers that it cannot be counted on to stand up for their rights.   Reed was unhappy that Lipstick Alley, a gossip site with particular traction among African-American women, carried an exchange […]

Voluntary Blocking of “Offensive Material” by Facebook and Google

by Paul Alan Levy Two voluntary takedowns of user-generated have been in the news lately, spurring some reflections, on the one hand, about the dangers of becoming overly dependent on certain platforms for free expression, and about how online service providers exercise their discretion under section 230 to remove material even though the providers cannot […]

Distributor of Magic Machine That Melts Away Your Fat Threatens Libel Claims

by Paul Alan Levy Many groups at Public Citizen issue hard-hitting reports, but we are scrupulous about reviewing reports about particular companies and individuals to ensure their accuracy, not to speak of avoiding the prospect of libel litigation.  This was certainly true with respect to letters to the FDA back in July, asking why it […]