Travel Tech Celebrates 30 Years of Section 230 as Online Reviews Continue to Drive Booking Decisions | News
The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) today marked the 30th anniversary of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which was signed into law in February 1996, a foundational law that enabled the online consumer review systems that are now central to planning and booking travel.
For travelers, reviews have become an important decision-making tool, determining how trips are researched, compared and ultimately booked. Section 230 allows travel platforms and suppliers to host user-generated reviews while moderating content in good faith, supporting both consumer transparency and efforts to combat fraud and abuse.
“Online reviews are a core part of the travel retail infrastructure,” said Laura Chadwick, President & CEO of Travel Tech. “Section 230 has helped create the framework that allows platforms and providers to host community-driven feedback while investing in moderation and trust tools that travelers depend on.”
Travel Tech members helped pioneer the use of user-generated content in the early 2000s, revolutionizing the way travelers plan trips and explore the world. The ability to provide trusted, community-driven insights without legal exposure has enabled the travel industry to grow, innovate and deliver better experiences to consumers.
Today, industry research shows just how powerful that influence has become: Expedia Group’s 2025 Traveler Value Index shows that about three-quarters of travelers say they are willing to pay more for accommodation with better reviews, rising to about 80% among travelers under 40.
As the number of reviews increases, travel platforms have expanded their investments in trust and security to protect the integrity of reviews. For example, Tripadvisor has reported publishing more than a billion reviews and continues to use a combination of technology and human moderation to identify fraudulent content.
Reviews and booking behavior
Across the travel industry, consumer reviews powered by Section 230 help travelers:
Compare options with more confidence
Make faster, more informed booking decisions
Spot potentially misleading or unsafe listings
Rely on insights from colleagues, in addition to prices and availability
“The travel industry works best when travelers trust the information they see,” says Chadwick. “Thirty years later, Section 230 remains an important part of the framework supporting transparency, consumer trust, and healthy digital marketplaces.”
