John Doe v. Snapchat

United States of America

07.07.2016

Civil

Snapchat’s Discover feature revealing more than expected

Popular video and photo sharing platform Snapchat is facing a lawsuit over its recently launched ‘Snapchat Discover’ feature.

Snapchat Discover compiles, curates and promotes content with media partners - popular media publishers like Buzzfeed, DailyMail, MTV and more - to provide content on a variety of themes and topics.

Controversy is over the use of the platform to intentionally expose minors to “harmful, offensive, prurient, and sexually offensive content, without warning minors or their parents that they would be exposed to such explicit content.” It is claimed that Snapchat exercises direct editorial control over the material, making it culpable in such dissemination.

The Plaintiff relies on the Communications Decency Act, specifically that upon agreeing to use the platform, customers should be made aware of the kind of content promoted on it and should be able to make informed decisions about what parental control protections should be used to protect minors from harm. Complaint lies primarily with exposure to nudity and sexually suggestive content involving minors.

Before deliberations can begin on merits, the District Court for the Central District of California will have to decide whether the action can commence as a class action lawsuit.

Snapchat has departed from its initial offering, which allows photos and videos to be shared between users, however only for a one-time-viewing. With a view to monetise its service better, Snapchat, like other social media companies, has been teaming up with media publishers with a penchant for short, engaging and contemporary content.

Tags : snapchat discover sexually suggestive nudity minors

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