Legal concerns with self-hosting (links.hackliberty.org)

submitted 1 year ago by CCL@links.hackliberty.org to c/selfhosted@lemmy.world

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I've been considering self-hosting for over a year now, but I'm still concerned if the feds will come knocking at my door for something someone else does.

For example, if someone on my server follows an individual or community and they posts something illegal (i.e. unauthorized sexually exploitive images) that content could be stored on my server. Wouldn't' I be legally liable for such?

I mean #fucklaws and everything, but I don't want to end up in a cage and certainly not for something someone else did.

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[-] nothing@lemm.ee 7 points 1 year ago

Maybe. First you should check out https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_230 which explains websites generally aren't responsible for users posting their own content. However, that's not a clear protection from anything. If you end up with blatantly illegal material, you will be investigated and forced to turn over data, surrender equipment, etc. They would have to prove that you were aware and complicit, but it's generally not worth the trouble unless you're making money from it. That being said if you got a lawyer that is familiar with section 230 to look over a disclaimer and your intentions, you're probably fairly protected. Also, the smaller you are, generally you're much less likely of being targeted should something happen.

Disclaimer; I'm not a source of defensive legal advice.

this post was submitted on 11 Jul 2023

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