Twitter, Inc. v. Taamneh
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A short, plain-English overview of Twitter, Inc. v. Taamneh.
In Twitter, Inc. v. Taamneh, the Supreme Court addressed whether social media companies could be held liable for aiding and abetting a terrorist attack under the Antiterrorism Act. The Court analyzed the requirements for aiding and abetting liability, referencing the Halberstam framework, and concluded that the plaintiffs did not sufficiently allege that the companies provided knowing and substantial assistance to ISIS in the Reina nightclub attack.
Holding
The single most important “bottom line” of what the Court decided in Twitter, Inc. v. Taamneh.
The Court held that the plaintiffs' allegations failed to state a claim under 18 U.S.C. § 2333(d)(2) for aiding and abetting ISIS in the Reina nightclub attack.
Key Quotes
Short excerpts from the syllabus in Twitter, Inc. v. Taamneh that support the summary and concepts above.
"Plaintiffs' allegations that these social-media companies aided and abetted ISIS in its terrorist attack on the Reina nightclub fail to state a claim under 18 U. S. C. § 2333(d)(2)."
"Defendants' mere creation of their media platforms is no more culpable than the creation of email, cell phones, or the internet generally."
"Plaintiffs have failed to allege that defendants intentionally provided any substantial aid to the Reina attack or otherwise consciously participated in it."
