Teen sues Snap, Google and Apple for failing to protect from online harm
A teenager is suing Snap, Google, and Apple for failing to protect her from online harm, including being groomed by a Marine. The lawsuit claims Snapchat provides a safe space for child abusers and criticizes the use of disappearing messages for exploitation. Apple and Google are included for hosting an app called Chitter facilitating anonymous connections.
A 16 year old girl and her mother has filed a class action lawsuit in a California federal court against Snap, Apple, and Google for failing to protect the teen from the harms on these platforms and spread of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
The girl was groomed by a Marine between 2018 till 2021, who convinced her to send nude photos and videos.
The lawsuit alleges that Snapchat provides a “safe haven” for child sexual abuser and that the app’s automatically disappearing messages feature allows “for exploitation and predatory behavior.”
Apple and Google have been named in the lawsuit for allowing the app Chitter (an app that allows two random users to connect and share messages, photos, and videos anonymously) on their respective marketplaces.
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