Media Activity and Setting of Oral Argument Dates in Google and Twitter Cases Prompt Attorneys’ Calls for Transparency and Accountability

Levin Papantonio Rafferty (LPR) attorneys fighting to hold social media companies accountable for their harmful, addictive algorithms issue statements calling for transparency and accountability. The statements come in response to a Wisconsin Congressman and Facebook whistleblower each drawing national attention to the highly charged issue in separate media interviews on January 1, 2023. 

The early January headlines came on the heels of the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) setting February dates for opening arguments in two high-profile social media cases involving Google and Twitter. Earlier, in December 2023, LPR Attorney and Shareholder Kim Adams, Counsel of Record for Amici Curiae Counter Extremism Project (CEP) and Hany Farid, filed Brief of Amici Curiae Counter Extremism Project (CEP) and Hany Farid in Support of Petitioners in re: Reynaldo Gonzalez, et al. v. Google LLC.

The brief states the argument that Google-generated recommendations are not “neutral tools” and should not be protected by “Section 230.”

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act is part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 that regulated online pornography. The section has been broadly interpreted to provide almost unlimited legal immunity from liability for internet services and uses for content posted on the internet.

A much awaited decision from the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) in Gonzalez v. Google is expected early this year.

The following is a statement from LPR Attorney Emmie Paulos on Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis) describing TikTok as “digital fentanyl” on NBC News’ “Meet the Press:”

“Social media addiction is a serious concern that is causing children to exhibit symptoms of poor mental health, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-harm, suicide ideation, and most unfortunately even suicide. The social media platforms are intentionally designed  to hook users into constant use. The more time a user spends on social media equals greater profits for the social media platforms. It’s time to hold the social media platforms accountable for the harms they are causing.”

Paulos has been appointed to the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee Membership for the multidistrict litigation (MDL) In Re: Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation in the Northern District of California (MDL No. 3047). This MDL involves several defendants, such as Meta Platforms, Inc., Instagram LLC, Snap, Inc., TikTok, Inc., ByteDance, Inc., YouTube LLC, Google LLC, and Alphabet Inc.

The following is a statement from LPR Attorney Carissa Phelps on Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen’s comment that social media tech reform remains at “such a basic level.”

“Francis Haugen’s recent interview on Meet the Press pointed out that regulation begins with transparency. For decades injured parties attempting to utilize the justice system have been hampered by broad interpretations of a 1996 law that essentially protect internet-based companies from any liability. The faults of Meta and other web-based enterprises are not just that they created harmful products that reached the public, but also that they did so almost entirely keeping the public in the dark. Corporate decisions were made in secret without any thought to ever being held liable for their actions or the injuries being caused to users. For the first time in history, the critical “eco-system” that Haugen refers to in her interview as being necessary in any healthy industry may be possible.”

For more information about LPR’s social media litigation and holding not only Meta, but all social media giants accountable for faulty products that have caused immeasurable injuries to users, please visit the law firm’s website or email the legal team at: jointhefight@levinlaw.com.

The lawsuits against Meta allege that Facebook and Instagram knowingly built these social media platforms using algorithms specifically designed to lure young people into a destructive addiction. Excessive exposure to the platforms has led kids and young adults to develop eating disorders, self-harm, and suicidal ideation.

The social media lawsuits claim that social media platforms by Defendants make billions of dollars each year by exploiting its most vulnerable users—children.

LPR is investigating cases on behalf of children, parents, and young adults who started using the platforms before the age of 18 and suffered an eating disorder, like anorexia or bulimia; or self-harm, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, or suicide after using these popular platforms more than three hours per day.

LPR has been representing injured people across the globe since 1955. The firm has gained national recognition as one of the most successful personal injury firms in the world and has been featured on CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox, as well as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Time Magazine, Forbes, and National Law Journal.

Levin Papantonio Rafferty attorneys handle lawsuits throughout the country involving prescription drugs, medical devices, medical malpractice, human trafficking, car accidents, and business litigation. Levin Papantonio Rafferty has earned more than $30 billion in jury verdicts and settlements, litigating against some of the largest corporations in the world.

For questions about the firm’s legal practice, call 1 (800) 277-1193.