Michael Brewer, a 17-year-old survivor of fentanyl poisoning, is at the center of a groundbreaking lawsuit against Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat. Brewer, who suffered blindness and severe brain injury after consuming a fentanyl-laced pill at age 13 purchased via the platform, is one of 64 families suing Snapchat for allegedly facilitating drug sales to teens through its design features. Plaintiffs accuse the app’s disappearing messages, Quick Add recommendations, and geolocation tools of creating a “digital drug market” that enabled dealers to connect with young users while evading law enforcement. Brewer’s testimony is especially crucial, as he is one of the few survivors who can describe such interactions firsthand; many others involved in the case did not survive.

The plaintiffs argue that Snapchat’s design prioritises engagement over safety, citing features that allegedly helped dealers promote their products and delete incriminating evidence. The lawsuit also challenges the immunity Snap claims under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects tech companies from being liable for user-generated content. If successful, this case could reshape the legal landscape for social media platforms, leading to greater accountability over their design and operations.

More details can be found at Bloomberg.