A California state judge has ruled that Snap must face a lawsuit from families whose children allegedly used the Snapchat app to purchase fentanyl on the platform. Tuesday’s ruling by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Lawrence Riff permits a dozen claims to proceed against Snap from the relatives of young people who allegedly suffered fentanyl overdoses that in many cases proved fatal. The decision could ultimately weaken the tech industry’s legal immunity shield, known as Section 230, and expose social media platforms to even more lawsuits. Riff’s decision allowing the case to move forward means Snap will have to fight allegations ranging from product defects to negligence and wrongful death. If successful, the lawsuits could also lift the prospects for a bevy of similar claims filed against Meta by dozens of state attorneys general.

Source: CNN January 06, 2024 03:19 UTC