Google, Meta and TikTok have filed separate lawsuits challenging California's Assembly Bill 1709, which restricts social media features for users under 16 and is set to take effect January 1, 2027.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Google, Meta and TikTok have each filed separate lawsuits challenging California's Assembly Bill 1709, a law restricting social media features for users under 16 that is scheduled to take effect January 1, 2027.
The companies filed their suits in federal courts in San Jose, San Francisco and Los Angeles, according to KQED. The California Attorney General's office, led by Rob Bonta, is the defendant in each lawsuit and said it is reviewing the filings.
The lawsuits argue the law violates the First Amendment and Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, which shields online platforms from liability over user content.
Assembly Bill 1709, authored by Long Beach Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, targets four features: infinite scrolling, autoplay, recommendation algorithms and notifications. The law would restrict the use of those features for users younger than 16.
The law also requires platforms to implement "reasonable measures" to verify users' ages and prevent those under 16 from accessing the restricted features, according to the Associated Press report published by First Amendment Watch.
Google said parents should have the final say over their children's online experiences and that overly broad laws break systems built to help kids find age-appropriate videos. Google spokesperson José Castañeda said the company offered amendments during the legislative process.
Meta said the law violates the First Amendment by letting the government dictate how ideas are organized, displayed, or shared with Californians. The company said it would be forced to either remove features that keep teens' experiences age-appropriate or cut thousands of California teens off from family, friends, and their communities.
TikTok called the law "a blatantly unconstitutional restriction on free expression that erodes the long-standing and protected practice of curating content based on user preferences, which bookstores, TV networks and streaming services all use."
Lowenthal said the legislation received unanimous bipartisan support in the California Legislature and was written to comport with case precedent. He said the law is not about the First Amendment because it does not regulate content.
"We don't allow parents to say that children can be in a casino or in a bar," Lowenthal told NBC4. "Certain public health issues trump parental controls, and this is absolutely one of them."
He accused the companies of using litigation to delay implementation while continuing to generate revenue.
The lawsuits could affect when or whether the restrictions are enforced. Lowenthal said he is confident California Attorney General Rob Bonta will defend the legislation. The measure also establishes an eSafety Commission intended to monitor evolving technology and advise lawmakers on future protections for children.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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