Section 230 Appeal

Patterson v. Meta Platforms, Inc.

🏛 N.Y. App. Div. · 📅 2025-01-01 · 📑 2025 WL 2092260 (N.Y. App. Div. 2025)

Issue

Whether New York state law claims against Meta arising from the platform's design and content recommendation features are preempted by § 230(e)(3) or otherwise barred as publisher-based liability.

What Happened

In a New York state appellate proceeding, plaintiffs brought state law claims against Meta arising from harms caused by Meta's platform design and algorithmic content recommendations. The Appellate Division addressed both § 230(e)(3) preemption and the merits of whether the state law claims were directed at Meta's own conduct or at Meta's publisher function over third-party content.

Why It Matters

An important state-court application of § 230 preemption doctrine and the design-defect framework. The New York Appellate Division's analysis contributes to the growing body of state appellate authority on § 230 preemption and is significant for ongoing multi-district litigation against Meta in both state and federal courts.