Prof. Alan Rozenshtein Quoted by Wall Street Journal on Upcoming Supreme Court Case Involving Google and the Federal Shield Law

Professor Alan Rozenshtein was recently quoted by the Wall Street Journal on an upcoming Supreme Court case again Google involving Section 230. Also known as the federal shield law, Section 230 generally protects online platforms from being sued over content uploaded by third-parties. For companies whose primary product is user engagement with third-party content, such as Google and Meta, this protection is critical. Both companies have been criticized in the past for utilizing algorithms that prioritize continued user engagement, regardless of whether or not the content may be harmful to the user. In the upcoming case, the plaintiff is asserting that Section 230 should not protect platforms that steer users towards harmful content. Losing the protection of Section 230 could fundamentally alter way online platforms operate, as well as opening these companies up to future litigation. Professor Rozenshtein, a former Justice Department cybersecurity official, commented that “this is going to be the most important [Supreme Court] term ever for the internet. It’s not even close.”