Major social media platforms including Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, and Google had their Section 230 appeal denied by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, meaning thousands of lawsuits alleging addictive product design for minors will proceed. The court ruled the appeal came prematurely, as such arguments typically arise after trial. Meta has already lost two similar jury trials, marking the first time it was held liable for child safety concerns.
Background
Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act has long shielded online platforms from liability for user-generated content, but its scope regarding platform design practices is increasingly being tested in court. This case represents a growing legal front against social media companies over alleged harmful design features targeting minors.
- Source
- TechCrunch
- Published
- Aug 11, 2026 at 02:30 AM
- Score
- 7.0 / 10