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On May 15, 2007, the Ninth Circuit issued a decision in Fair Housing Council of San Fernando Valley v. Roommate.com, LLC affecting the Communications Decency Act ("CDA") for internet service providers against liability for information created and provided by third parties. CDA Section 230(c) immunity became less clear after the case on when an internet service provider's neutral solicitation of user information does not take away CDA immunity and the solicitation of information that risks loss of immunity.

The Fair Housing Councils of San Fernando Valley and San Diego ("FHC") filed suit claiming Roommate.com violated the Fair Housing Act and state laws due to the answers generated and published on its website.

Like some dating web sites, Roommate.com asks a series of online questions that users must answer by selecting from drop-down and select-a-box menus. These questions and answers require disclosure of information such as age, gender, and sexual orientation.

The above is not meant to be legal advice.