Appeals Court Allows Lawsuits Against Major Social Media Platforms
A federal appeals court has decided not to dismiss numerous lawsuits aimed at Meta, Google, TikTok, and Snapchat. These complaints argue that the platforms are designed to be addictive for younger users, and now they can proceed.
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an appeal from Meta and TikTok that sought to overturn a previous ruling requiring them to address over 3,000 lawsuits filed in federal court. The court deemed their appeal to be premature.
The social media companies contended that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, which generally protects online platforms from liability regarding user-generated content, should also shield them from lawsuits concerning their allegedly addictive design features. This section has typically insulated many companies from legal action related to the content shared on their platforms.
New Mexico Court Rules Against Meta
Interestingly, while most appeals are made after a final judgment, the companies argued that it wasn’t necessary to wait for a conclusion to challenge the lower court’s decision on their immunity defense. However, the court stated that Section 230 cannot be invoked to dismiss lawsuits, clarifying that it serves only as a defense against liability, not immunity from litigation, according to Judge Jacqueline Nguyen.
This ruling means lawsuits can now move forward, suggesting that social media companies could be held accountable for designing their platforms to promote addictive usage patterns, failing to verify users’ ages, and inadequately blocking harmful material.
Moreover, the commission also turned down Meta’s request to delay an upcoming trial set to begin Wednesday, stemming from a lawsuit filed by 29 state attorneys general. They accuse Meta of illegally gathering and utilizing children’s data, fostering addiction among young users, and misrepresenting safety concerns regarding children using the platforms.
Meta claimed that the trial should not continue while the appeal was under consideration, but the court disagreed.
Lawyers representing various school districts and those pursuing lawsuits against Meta and other tech companies in federal court welcomed this ruling. They believe it allows state cases and trials involving school district claims to proceed, with hearings expected in February.
Four States Seek Significant Fines in Social Media Addiction Case
The attorneys further emphasized that this trial could shed light on what Meta knew about the impact of its platforms on children. Their assertion suggests that Meta has attempted to keep certain evidences hidden from public scrutiny.
This follows a separate New Mexico court ruling finding that Meta’s actions posed a public nuisance, which resulted in a $567 million mandate to fund teen mental health initiatives and enforce new safety measures.
Earlier this year, verdicts in California and New Mexico sided against Meta, highlighting child safety risks associated with their platforms.
