The lawsuit claims that Snapchat’s design and policies are “inherently flawed” and “designed to encourage” the sharing of child sexual abuse material. The lawsuit argues that Snapchat’s features like disappearing messages, filters, and augmented reality (AR) tools are used by predators to exploit children. These features, according to the lawsuit, create a sense of anonymity and secrecy that allows predators to engage in harmful activities without fear of detection. The lawsuit also highlights the company’s failure to adequately address the issue of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on its platform.
This is a serious problem because it undermines the trust users have in the platform and can have severe consequences for victims of abuse. It also raises concerns about the platform’s responsibility to protect its users, especially children. The issue of Snap’s misleading advertising and its potential for abuse is not new. In 2019, a similar issue arose when a group of parents discovered that their children’s photos and videos were being shared on a website called “The Daily Mail.” This incident highlighted the potential for misuse of the platform and the need for stricter regulations. The Daily Mail incident, along with other similar cases, has led to calls for greater transparency and accountability from social media companies like Snap.
This investigation revealed that Snapchat was aware of the abuse and had taken steps to prevent it. However, the investigation also revealed that Snapchat was not doing enough to stop the sharing of these images. The lawsuit alleges that Snapchat failed to adequately protect children from sexual abuse material (CSAM) and that the app’s design and features contributed to the spread of CSAM. The lawsuit argues that Snapchat’s failure to act on its knowledge of the abuse and its inaction to prevent the sharing of CSAM constituted negligence. The lawsuit also alleges that Snapchat’s failure to adequately protect children from CSAM is a violation of the state’s consumer protection laws.
