Apple NASDAQ:AAPL secured the dismissal of a proposed class-action lawsuit alleging it failed to prevent the distribution of child sexual abuse material through its iCloud storage platform, after a U.S. judge ruled the claims were barred under federal law.
U.S. District Judge Noel Wise in San Jose, California, found that the lawsuit sought to hold Apple liable for content created and shared by users, placing the claims within the protections of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The judge dismissed the case with prejudice, preventing the plaintiffs from filing the same claims again.
The lawsuit, originally filed in 2024 on behalf of about 2,680 plaintiffs, sought up to $32.8 billion in compensatory damages and requested changes to Apple's iCloud platform. The plaintiffs argued Apple failed to use available technology to detect and report abusive material stored on the service.
Apple has maintained that it uses alternative methods to combat child sexual abuse material while balancing user privacy and security. Attorneys representing the plaintiffs said they are reviewing the ruling and may pursue an appeal or explore other legal options.