The Supreme Court expressed caution Tuesday on a challenge to big social media companies, worrying that stripping them of legal protection for how they promote content on their website could upend the entire internet economy.
The case before the justices came from the family of a woman who was killed in an Islamic State terrorist attack in Paris in 2015. The family, citing U.S. anti-terrorism law, said Google, which owns YouTube, could be held liable for promoting ISIS content because its algorithms suggest the terrorist group’s videos to people looking for them.
Lisa Blatt, Google’s lawyer, said the law’s theory is that if the harm flows from a posted video or story, it’s the creator of the content, not the internet company, who’s speaking. She added that the company contributes the algorithm that decides which content to suggest to each user — which is not speech.
Relatives of Nohemi Gonzalez, an American killed in Paris, say ISIS posted content on YouTube, owned by Google, which wasn’t diligent enough in removing it, and in some instances would “recommend” ISIS videos to users. She said given the potential stakes, with tech companies warning an adverse ruling could crash the digital economy, judges should be cautious about inserting themselves into the complicated argument.Mr. Schnapper said he’s arguing only against the companies’ recommendations.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Opinion | The political world focuses on Wisconsin’s Supreme Court raceOpinion by Jennifer Rubin: If a progressive wins the seat, the court will likely defend abortion rights in a state where a significant majority of voters are pro-choice.
Read more »
Two Supreme Court cases could upend the rules of the internet | EngadgetTwo Supreme Court cases could upend the rules of the internet
Read more »
Supreme Court to hear oral arguments in Google case with potential to upend the internetAccording to the plaintiffs in the case — the family of Nohemi Gonzalez, who was killed in a 2015 ISIS attack in Paris — YouTube’s targeted recommendations violated a US antiterrorism law by …
Read more »
Supreme Court for first time casts doubt on Section 230, the legal shield for Big TechThe legal shield known as Section 230 launched Big Tech and was largely unchallenged in the Supreme Court — until now.
Read more »
U.S. Supreme Court debates challenge to internet firms' legal shieldThe U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday heard arguments in a major case that could weaken a legal shield that protects internet companies from a wide array of lawsuits in a dispute involving YouTube and the family of an American student fatally shot in a 2015 rampage by Islamist militants in Paris.
Read more »