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Is social media a defective product? Pt 1

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In the first part of a new series, Harry Lambert puts social media firms under the spotlight, asking: to what extent are they liable for harm?
  • Considers whether it is possible to sue social media companies, or whether they are protected by immunity—either contractual or statutory.
  • Examines in detail the law in relation to social media algorithms and asks if they are covered by the Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002.

This series evaluates the potential liability of social media companies for the harms caused by their algorithms and platform design.

This part considers whether it is possible to sue social media companies at all, or whether they are protected by contractual or statutory immunity. In part two, on the assumption that such immunity can be circumnavigated, I will consider which causes of action provide the best vehicle for such claims, against the backdrop of the wider statutory framework governing social media contained in the new Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Muckle LLP—Rachael Chapman

Muckle LLP—Rachael Chapman

Sports, education and charities practice welcomes senior associate

Ellisons—Carla Jones

Ellisons—Carla Jones

Partner and head of commercial litigation joins in Chelmsford

Freeths—Louise Mahon

Freeths—Louise Mahon

Firm strengthens Glasgow corporate practice with partner hire

NEWS
One in five in-house lawyers suffer ‘high’ or ‘severe’ work-related stress, according to a report by global legal body, the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC)
The Legal Ombudsman’s (LeO’s) plea for a budget increase has been rejected by the Law Society and accepted only ‘with reluctance’ by conveyancers
Overcrowded prisons, mental health hospitals and immigration centres are failing to meet international and domestic human rights standards, the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) has warned
Two speedier and more streamlined qualification routes have been launched for probate and conveyancing professionals
Workplace stress was a contributing factor in almost one in eight cases before the employment tribunal last year, indicating its endemic grip on the UK workplace
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