Doe v. WebGroup Czech Republic, AS — 9th Cir. (Jul 8, 2026)
The Ninth Circuit hears Doe versus WebGroup Czech Republic. Doe asks to revive claims against operators of adult websites that she says carried videos of her abuse as a minor and shared advertising revenue with uploaders. The central question is whether Section 230 shields the companies despite federal trafficking law. After this argument, a divided panel affirmed the dismissal; Judge Fitzwater dissented on the trafficking claim.
Doe v. WebGroup Czech Republic, AS (No. 25-2424) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, argued July 8, 2026.
Sources
Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/media/2026/07/08/25-2424.mp3
Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit:https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/streams-videos/archive?case=25-2424&hearingDate=2026-07-08
Memorandum disposition — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit:https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/memoranda/2026/08/12/25-2424.pdf
Prior opinion — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit:https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2024/02/14/22-55315.pdf
Appellate docket — Doe v. WebGroup Czech Republic:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca9/25-2424
Section 230 — U.S. House:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title47-section230&num=0&edition=prelim
Federal sex-trafficking statute — U.S. House:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section1591&num=0&edition=prelim
Child sexual abuse material — U.S. Department of Justice:https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/programs/project-safe-childhood-psc
- 0:00Introduction
- 0:40Advocate — Counsel for Jane Doe
- 2:16CSAM
- 14:48The FOSTA Exception
- 15:58Advocate — Adam Banks