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 retir ...