K.G. S. v. Facebook
In brief
The Supreme Court refused to hear the case (denied review), so it did not decide whether Section 230 protected Facebook or whether Alabama courts had authority based on its online contacts.
- Where it stands
- Decided
Decided · May 4, 2020
- What it’s about
- The Court denied review of K.G.S.'s case against Facebook, leaving the Alabama Supreme Court's ruling in Facebook's favor in place.
- Who it affects
- The Alabama Supreme Court's ruling for Facebook remained in place in K.G.S.'s case, but the Supreme Court did not decide the petition's legal questions.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
The dispute concerned whether Facebook's online or “virtual” contacts with Alabama could support specific personal jurisdiction under the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause.
The dispute also concerned whether Facebook's online or “virtual” contacts with Alabama gave Alabama courts authority over it under the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause. Alabama's highest court had ruled in Facebook's favor.
The dispute combined a federal law question about an online platform's liability with a constitutional question about whether Alabama courts had authority over Facebook based on its online contacts.
Question presented
1. Whether Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, 47 U.S.C. § 230, provides immunity to an interactive computer service for its own conduct in creating and developing content that violates the rights of others. 2. Whether Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, 47 U.S.C. § 230, provides immunity to an interactive computer service for its own conduct in failing to warn users of known dangers on its platform.
What the Court decided
Holding
Petition DENIED.
What's next
This Supreme Court docket action is finished. The denial left the Alabama Supreme Court's ruling for Facebook in place without resolving the legal questions.
Documents
Opinions
Key filings
Docket activity
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AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
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More questions
- Did the denial approve Facebook's position?
- No. The Court only refused to hear the case and did not endorse either side or decide the legal questions.
Sources
Primary materials plus reporting. Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.