If Section 230 is your first line of defense, then your terms of use are your second. And believe me, they’re just as critical.


In Chapter 3 of Bulletproof Your Marketplace, I focus on user contracts—what most people call terms of use, terms and conditions, or terms of service. I’ve seen too many platforms treat them as boilerplate. Copy-paste from another site, change the logo, move on. That’s a mistake. Because when something inevitably goes wrong—and it will—your terms can be the difference between a quick dismissal and a drawn-out legal nightmare.

In my previous blog post about the Communications Decency Act Section 230, also known as CDA 230, I discussed many of its positive aspects. No matter which side you fall on, CDA 230 is one of the most debated laws in tech policy. Supporters view it as the backbone of the modern internet, while critics argue it gives platforms too much protection. This time around, we’re going to look at some criticism CDA 230 has received over the years.

I’ve always believed that to understand the future of marketplaces, we need to first look back. In Chapter 1 of Bulletproof Your Marketplace, I take a step back from the legal frameworks and risk strategies to explore the big picture: how marketplaces have evolved from ancient trading posts to today’s digital platforms—and what that means for founders like you.

The International AI Safety Report 2026 marks a decisive shift in the global AI conversation. For years, discussions about AI safety were dominated by hypotheticals - scenarios about distant superintelligence or abstract existential risk. This year’s report feels different. It is grounded in measurable developments, real-world deployments, and documented misuse. The risks are no longer speculative - they are emerging alongside rapidly improving frontier systems.

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re either building a marketplace or already operating one. First of all—congrats. That means you’re part of a $3.6 trillion global economy that’s reshaping how we live, work, and connect. But while there’s enormous opportunity in building a marketplace or digital platform, there’s also a ticking clock on when—not if—something will go sideways.