Congressman Patronis Urges Congress to Repeal Section 230 After Social Media Negligence Verdict

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a landmark verdict, a jury found Meta and YouTube liable for harm to children, ruling they were negligent in the design and operation of their platforms, the first trial over social media addiction.

The court found their actions harmed a young user, identified as K.G.M., and that they failed to warn families on the dangers of social media.

“This ruling reinforces what we’ve been saying all along: it’s time for Congress to act,” said Congressman Patronis. This can't stop at Meta and Youtube. Section 230 is broken, and the era of unchecked Big Tech power must come to an end. We must pass the PROTECT Act and finally hold these companies accountable to the same standards as everyone else. I introduced the PROTECT Act to end Section 230 because families deserve better. Parents should not have to worry about big tech billionaires targeting their children with content designed to hook, harm, and exploit them, all without consequence.”

For decades, Section 230 has given social media platforms a free pass to profit off harmful and addictive content while avoiding responsibility for the real-world consequences. Today’s decision sends a clear message: you cannot act like a publisher, push dangerous algorithms, and still hide behind a liability shield. These platforms knew the risks, and failed to warn the public or take meaningful steps to protect users.

Congressman Patronis continued, “This ruling that big tech has liability underscores that they have been hiding behind an old part of a law made decades ago. Where there is no liability. There is no responsibility. Big tech needs both.”

H.R. 7045 the PROTECT Act would repeal Section 230, finally holding these companies accountable and protecting children from the harms caused by unchecked online platforms.

To view H.R. 7045 the PROTECT Act click here

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