Snapchat in the Spotlight: A Landmark Ruling on Drug Sales Liability

In October 2022, a group of families who lost children to fentanyl sold over Snapchat filed a lawsuit against the company, in Los Angeles County Superior Court. According to the legal filings, several of the plaintiffs had met with Snapchat executives in April of 2021. During that meeting the plaintiffs allege Snapchat executives told them the company was immunized from civil liability by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. On January 2, 2024, in what may turn out to be one of the most significant legal decisions of the decade, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lawrence Riff ruled the case would go forward. This is the first time in history a social media company is subject to claims it facilitated illegal and fatal drug sales. Join retired California Highway Patrol Chief Mark Garrett and retired DEA Special Agent in Charge Bill Bodner on Episode 6 of the Truth Nation Podcast as they discuss the ruling, the specific allegations in this case, how drugs are sold using the Snapchat platform, and how social media platforms use an outdated Section 230 as a shield to selectively censor and put profits before safety. If you’re the parent of a child under the age 18, this is a must listen!