Court Rejects Meta, TikTok Claims of Section 230 Immunity
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A 9th Circuit ruling clarifies that Section 230 serves as a defense against liability rather than a shield from lawsuits, clearing the way for massive social media addiction trials.
A U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit panel has rejected attempts by Meta and TikTok to secure immunity from thousands of social media addiction lawsuits, ruling that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act provides a defense to liability but not immunity from suit.
As reported by Ars Technica, the 3-0 decision dismisses appeals from Meta and TikTok, noting that Congress does not provide an explicit guarantee that companies will not face trials. The ruling ensures that a trial scheduled for August 19 in district court will proceed, with jury selection starting August 12. This specific case involves consumer protection claims brought by the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey. Meta previously stated in a July filing that the damages sought by these state AGs could exceed $1.4 trillion.
State AGs contend that Meta deliberately designed its platforms to increase revenue and induce compulsive use while deceiving the public regarding safety. The litigation also includes 25 other state AGs alleging violations of the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and state consumer protection laws, as well as personal-injury claims from individuals, school districts, and local governments.
According to Ars Technica, the broader consolidated litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California—which Reuters reports includes more than 3,000 lawsuits—also names Google and Snapchat as defendants. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers previously ruled in October 2024 that while Section 230 protects the design of most features, it does not dismiss theories of liability regarding platform construction or the failure to warn users about addiction risks.