The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University sued Meta on behalf of Ethan Zuckerman. The University of Massachusetts Amherst researcher has developed a browser extension for users to more directly control their Facebook feeds.
For those in a hurry:
- The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University sued Meta on behalf of Ethan Zuckerman, a researcher at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Zuckerman developed a browser extension called Unfollow Everything 2.0;
- The extension created by Zuckerman allows Facebook users to unfollow friends, groups and pages, making it possible to use the platform without the algorithmic feed or customizing the feed to only follow entities of your choice. The extension also includes a data donation component, where users can choose to share anonymized data about their Facebook usage for research purposes;
- The suit seeks legal protection for Zuckerman and his extension under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, which shields online platforms from legal liability for the actions of their users but also includes provisions that protect developers of tools that allow users to curate the that they see online;
- Meta declined to comment on the lawsuit. But the company has a history of responding aggressively to researchers and developers who create tools that affect the way its platforms are used or studied. If successful, Zuckerman’s move could lead to significant changes in the way users interact with Facebook.
Facebook’s News Feed algorithm has been the focus of intense debate and user complaints over the years. And the lawsuit in question (available on the Knight First Amendment Institute website) seeks to significantly change how users interact with this functionality.
Read more:
If successful, the action could lead to significant changes in the way users interact with Facebook. It could also set a precedent for greater user autonomy on social media.
Facebook feed control
Zuckerman developed the Unfollow Everything 2.0 extension, through which Facebook users “effectively disable” their news feed by unfollowing friends, groups and pages.
This extension would allow users to use the platform without the algorithmic feed or customize their feed by following only the entities they choose.
In addition to allowing users to control their feeds, Zuckerman’s extension includes a data donation component. Users who choose to use the extension will be able to share anonymized data about their use of Facebook for research.
This would provide valuable data on the impact of the Facebook feed algorithm, contributing to a deeper understanding of its implications.
The inspiration for Zuckerman’s extension came from a previous project called Unfollow Everything, created by a UK developer in 2021.
Legal issues
After Unfollow Everything was released, Facebook sued the creator and permanently disabled his account. Zuckerman is now seeking legal protection to avoid similar consequences by appealing to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996.
Zuckerman’s case could test lesser-known aspects of Section 230, which traditionally protects online platforms from legal liability for the actions of their users.
In this case, the lawsuit is based on a provision that protects developers of tools that allow users to curate what they see online.
This aspect of the law can provide a robust defense for the development of tools that challenge platforms’ controls over user experience.
Meta declined to comment on the lawsuit, maintaining its usual line of not discussing ongoing litigation. But Big Tech has a history of responding aggressively to researchers and developers who create tools that affect the way their platforms are used or studied.
