The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit correctly held that Grindr, a popular dating app, can’t be held responsible for matching users and enabling them to exchange messages that led to real...
Read Full Article »Ninth Circuit Correctly Rules That Dating App Isn’t Liable for Matching Users
Discussion Points
- Balancing Free Speech and Liability: How can online platforms balance their responsibility to protect users from harm with the need to preserve free speech and avoid censorship?r
- Section 230 Immunity: A Double-Edged Sword: Can Section 230 immunity be used as a tool for holding perpetrators accountable, or does it ultimately shield them from liability?r
- Redefining Defamation in the Digital Age: How can we reevaluate our understanding of defamation and its application to online platforms, considering the rise of user-generated content and social media.
Summary
R The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in favor of Grindr, a popular dating app, citing Section 230 immunity. The plaintiff, who was misclassified as an adult on the app, brought various claims against Grindr, but the court dismissed all except for a federal civil sex trafficking claim.
The ruling affirms that online services cannot be held responsible for publishing harmful user-generated content. While this decision may seem to shield platforms from liability, it also highlights the need foeevaluating our approach to defamation and holding perpetrators accountable in the digital age.