Knight Columbia Sues Meta Over User Control of Feeds, Cites Section 230

May 1, 2024, 05:32 PM

A series of lawsuits have been filed against Meta, challenging the company's control over user feeds on Facebook. The cases, spearheaded by Knight Columbia and involving academics like Professor Zuckerman, argue that under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, users should have the right to control their social media experience through third-party tools such as a browser extension that allows users to unfollow friends and turn off news feeds. This legal action is underscored by concerns over algorithmic control and its impact on user autonomy and well-being, with proposals for users to donate their data to academic research studies. The outcome of these lawsuits could significantly alter how social media platforms operate, particularly in how they allow users to interact with and manage their feeds.