October Term 2022 · Docket 21-1333
Does Section 230 shield platforms from liability for their own design choices?
the sides that brought the case argue Google's design choices caused harm. the opposing sides claim the statute bars all such claims.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Schnapper argued Section 230 distinguishes third-party content from company conduct.
Ms. Blatt argued the statute bars claims when harm flows from third-party information.
Justice Roberts noted platforms are responsible for item selection, not content.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 115, lines 55-49 — Transcript, file page 115, lines 55-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 55-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 55-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 129, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 129, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 129, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 129, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 130, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 130, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 131, lines 37-51 — Transcript, file page 131, lines 37-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 132, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 132, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 132, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 132, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 132, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 132, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 133, lines 27-1 — Transcript, file page 133, lines 27-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 134, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 134, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 136, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 136, lines 25-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 136, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 136, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 137, lines 7-53 — Transcript, file page 137, lines 7-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 139, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 139, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 163, lines 13-43 — Transcript, file page 163, lines 13-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-39 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 11-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 51-33 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 51-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 51-13 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 51-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 55-45 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 55-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 47-25 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 47-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 82, lines 37-53 — Transcript, file page 82, lines 37-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 39-13 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 39-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-53 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-53
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of Section 230(c)(1). the sides that brought the case seek liability for platform design. the opposing sides seek immunity for all content-related claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 115, lines 55-49 — Transcript, file page 115, lines 55-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 129, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 129, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 163, lines 13-43 — Transcript, file page 163, lines 13-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 51-33 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 51-33
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 21, 2023.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 139, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 139, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-39 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 11-39
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to allow liability for platform design choices.
the opposing sides want the Court to bar all claims based on third-party content.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 115, lines 55-49 — Transcript, file page 115, lines 55-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 129, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 129, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 163, lines 13-43 — Transcript, file page 163, lines 13-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 51-33 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 51-33
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the statute distinguishes between third-party content and company conduct.
the opposing sides argue the statute bars claims when harm flows from third-party information.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 115, lines 55-49 — Transcript, file page 115, lines 55-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 129, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 129, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 163, lines 13-43 — Transcript, file page 163, lines 13-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 51-33 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 51-33
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked whether specific actions constitute publishing.
Justice Alito questioned where the line between content and conduct is drawn.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 55-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 55-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 129, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 129, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 130, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 130, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 131, lines 37-51 — Transcript, file page 131, lines 37-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 132, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 132, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 132, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 132, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 132, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 132, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 133, lines 27-1 — Transcript, file page 133, lines 27-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 134, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 134, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 136, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 136, lines 25-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 136, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 136, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 137, lines 7-53 — Transcript, file page 137, lines 7-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 139, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 139, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-39 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 11-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 51-13 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 51-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 55-45 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 55-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 47-25 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 47-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 82, lines 37-53 — Transcript, file page 82, lines 37-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 39-13 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 39-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-53 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-53
Why it matters
The outcome defines platform liability for design choices. It shapes user safety and speech regulation online.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 115, lines 55-49 — Transcript, file page 115, lines 55-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 129, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 129, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 163, lines 13-43 — Transcript, file page 163, lines 13-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 51-33 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 51-33
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 55-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 55-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 129, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 129, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 130, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 130, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 131, lines 37-51 — Transcript, file page 131, lines 37-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 132, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 132, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 132, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 132, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 132, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 132, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 133, lines 27-1 — Transcript, file page 133, lines 27-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 134, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 134, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 136, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 136, lines 25-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 136, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 136, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 137, lines 7-53 — Transcript, file page 137, lines 7-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 139, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 139, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-39 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 11-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 51-13 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 51-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 55-45 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 55-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 47-25 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 47-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 82, lines 37-53 — Transcript, file page 82, lines 37-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 39-13 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 39-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-53 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-53
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 115, lines 55-49 — Transcript, file page 115, lines 55-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 129, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 129, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 163, lines 13-43 — Transcript, file page 163, lines 13-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 51-33 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 51-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 115, lines 55-49 — Transcript, file page 115, lines 55-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 129, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 129, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 163, lines 13-43 — Transcript, file page 163, lines 13-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 51-33 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 51-33
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.