Social Media Design and the Law: Where Does Accountability Lie?

Join us for a panel exploring how—and whether—online platforms can be held accountable for their impacts on public health, safety, and democracy, with a focus on the evolving legal interpretation of Section 230.

Speakers from EPIC and NYU–Northeastern’s Cybersecurity for Democracy will discuss their recent amicus brief in litigation alleging Meta used harmful design features for profit, outlining why Section 230 should not apply. They will delve into the history of Section 230, current judicial approaches, emerging legal theories, the relationship between Section 230 and the First Amendment, the “moderator’s dilemma,” and the technical expertise—including how algorithmic feeds work—needed to understand accountability in social media design.