Story perspectives

9th Circuit Backs Google in RNC's Email Bias Lawsuit

1/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the lower court's dismissal of the Republican National Committee (RNC)'s lawsuit against Google.
The court ruled that Google's email filtering is a service to users and not discriminatory.
The RNC plans to evaluate further options and says it aims to protect First Amendment rights against Big Tech.
Google maintains that its spam filters base decisions on user behavior rather than political bias.

History

Historical Context

The CAN-SPAM Act, enacted on January 1, 2004, established the first national standards for commercial email in the U.S., following a surge in unsolicited emails during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Despite bipartisan support, critics labeled it the "You Can Spam" Act due to its perceived leniency. Ongoing debates about its effectiveness continue, especially as digital communication evolves and tensions rise between political entities and tech companies.

1 of 2

Story summary

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the lower court's dismissal of the Republican National Committee (RNC)'s lawsuit against Google.
The court ruled that Google's email filtering is a service to users and not discriminatory.
The RNC plans to evaluate further options and says it aims to protect First Amendment rights against Big Tech.
Google maintains that its spam filters base decisions on user behavior rather than political bias.

1 / 2