A tidal wave of litigation is catching up to Meta, leading to $42 billion in recent penalties and settlements, a powerful reminder to AI companies that they could face a court reckoning even when regulation lags.

Why it matters: AI companies are racing to build better models and autonomous agents, but they don't enjoy the same legal protections that shielded web platforms for decades. The scale of the penalties Meta is facing offers a preview of potential legal exposure.

The big picture: For years, Facebook's parent company navigated a seemingly endless string of scandals — weathering allegations of election interference, privacy lapses and platform harms — and was largely protected from severe litigation penalties due to Section 230.

The provision — from a historic 1996 law passed as the internet was just beginning to change modern life — protects tech platforms from being sued over content created by their users.

Legal experts say that law doesn't apply to AI.…