CDT Files Amicus Brief in Patterson v. Meta

On May 1, 2025, the Center for Democracy & Technology filed an amicus brief in the case of Patterson v. Meta. CDT filed this brief to bring to the court’s attention the broader impacts on free expression that weakening Section 230 will have on speech that is constitutionally protected, but controversial. The brief explains that Section 230’s liability protections are essential to enable free expression online and they extend to the use of automated systems to engage to rank and order content as part of traditional publishing activities. It further argues that product liability claims do not fall outside of Section 230’s ambit, requiring courts to consider whether a particular product liability claim seeks to hold a service provider liable as a publisher of third party content. Finally, the brief notes that livestreaming is a method of publication of third-party content that also receives Section 230’s protection. 

Read the full brief.