Snap Escapes Sex-Grooming Suit Citing Communications Decency Act

Snap Inc. fended off claims that its social media app, Snapchat, was negligently designed to allow minors to interact with adult sexual predators, after a Texas federal judge found the claims were barred by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

The negligence claims attempted to hold Snap liable for sexually explicit messages and photos sent between a sophomore high school student and Bonnie Guess-Mazock, a teacher in her thirties accused of grooming the student for sex.

Section 230 give Snap immunity, Judge Lee H. Rosenthal said, because Snapchat is an interactive computer service and the plaintiff treats the company ...