Snapchat Removes Speed Filter After Lawsuits | Social Media News
Snapchat to Remove Controversial Speed Filter
The 3D Cartoon lens on Snapchat has recently gained significant attention, transforming users into animated characters. However, a long-standing feature of the platform, the speed filter – displaying a phone’s velocity during photo or video capture – is now being discontinued.
History of Concerns and Accidents
Initial reports from NPR highlighted this decision as a shift from Snap’s previous defense of the filter. Over time, numerous car accidents, injuries, and even fatalities have been linked to its use.
For example, in 2016, an 18-year-old driver, while using Snapchat, collided with another vehicle at 107 miles per hour while attempting to capture a selfie. The other driver, Maynard Wentworth, sustained severe brain trauma and subsequently filed a lawsuit against Snap.
Past Controversies with Snapchat Filters
Snapchat’s history includes other problematic filter releases. Last year, on Juneteenth, a filter encouraging users to “smile to break the chains” was released, drawing criticism for its insensitivity.
Furthermore, a 2016 collaboration with the Bob Marley estate resulted in a filter that applied dreadlocks and darkened skin tones, widely condemned as an instance of digital blackface.
Even after the speed filter was associated with deadly accidents, it remained accessible with only a “don’t snap and drive” disclaimer.
Snapchat’s Official Statement and Rollout
According to a Snap spokesperson, “Today the sticker is barely used by Snapchatters, and in light of that, we are removing it altogether.” The feature had previously been disabled during detected driving speeds.
The removal process has begun, though complete implementation may take several weeks.
Legal Challenges and Section 230
This change in policy follows a May ruling by the Ninth Circuit Appeals Court, allowing a lawsuit against Snapchat regarding its role in a fatal car accident to proceed.
Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act typically shields websites from liability for user-generated content.
However, lawsuits filed in 2019 by the parents of Landen Brown and Hunter Morby, who were killed in separate crashes, argued that the app’s “negligent design” – including the speed filter – contributed to the incidents.
While a California judge initially dismissed the case citing Section 230, the Ninth Circuit Appeals Court determined that the law does not apply in this instance.
The court distinguished between Snapchat’s role as a social media platform and the inherent danger of its app’s design, specifically the speed filter.
Implications of the Ruling
With the loss of its Section 230 defense, maintaining the speed filter now presents an unacceptable legal risk for Snapchat.
Although the filter-related accidents should have prompted its removal years ago, this action is a positive step.
