Meta Platforms successfully defended against an appeal by Children’s Health Defense, an anti-vaccine group founded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which challenged the company’s censorship of posts spreading misinformation about vaccine efficacy and safety. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the nonprofit failed to prove that Meta was coerced by federal officials to suppress anti-vaccine content, affirming Meta’s right as a private company to manage its platform according to its beliefs.
Children’s Health Defense had sued Meta in 2020, claiming that the company’s actions, including flagging their posts as misinformation and restricting their advertising, violated their constitutional rights. However, the court upheld Meta’s actions, with Circuit Judge Eric Miller stating that Meta, as a private entity, has the First Amendment right to promote views it supports, even if they align with government positions on vaccines.
The court also dismissed claims against the Poynter Institute and Science Feedback, organizations that assist Meta in verifying the accuracy of content on Facebook. Despite the loss, Children’s Health Defense expressed disappointment with the ruling and indicated it is considering further legal action.
