Apple, Google, and Meta have all been denied their requests to dismiss the latest class action lawsuit alleging they promote illegal gambling.
There continue to be multiple suits against Apple over gambling apps on the App Store, with class-action ones filed in 2020, and then separately in 2020. The new ruling is part of a continuing case that sought to describe Apple, Meta, and Google as bookies.
Previously citing "exceptional circumstances," Judge Edward J. Davila allowed the companies to appeal against the case making that distinction. Now according to Reuters, while Judge Davila has dismissed certain elements of the case, he has denied motions to dismiss them all.
"The crux of plaintiffs' theory is that defendants improperly processed payments for social casino apps," Davila wrote in his decision. "It is beside the point whether that activity turns defendants into bookies or brokers."
Each of the three firms had chiefly based their appeal on Section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act. This shields online platforms from liability over third-party content, which the firms maintain therefore shielded them from the proposed suits.
None of the three companies has yet responded publicly about the ruling. Nor have lawyers for the plaintiffs, though those plaintiffs have previously accused the firms of triggering depression and suicidal thoughts.
Due to the significance of the Section 230 issues, Judge Davila's ruling does allow for an appeal. Apple, Google, and Meta, are now able to take such an appeal to the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals.
That court has previously dismissed earlier appeals, however, arguing that it has no jurisdiction because the class action cases are too broad. In 2020, the Supreme Court similarly declined to adjudicate over Section 230 in general.
