I’m confused? What’s WhatsApp being part of a big tech company got to do with 230 immunity?

Can you explain how? The article lists WhatsApp as an example of an interactive computer service that is covered by section 230 immunity. Is it because WhatsApp is purely a messaging service without curation or moderation and so the law wouldn't consider WhatsApp to be a publisher anyway?

I don't use WhatsApp, but my understanding is that they are in the business of providing private communication between parties.

Section 230 protects the likes of Facebook, where people can post things for all the world to see, including things that are slanderous or illegal.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_230_of_the_Communicati...

Yes, section 230 protects Facebook for public conversations. But as far as I'm aware it also protects providers of private communication, because as a user of the provider you could potentially receive illegal content from them. The provider, should they choose to moderate content by e.g. having report buttons and moderation teams, could still be treated as a publisher.

Why do you think WhatsApp doesn't need section 230 immunity? Do you think it can survive while being held liable for every bit of content shared on it?