Google, Meta and TikTok have filed separate federal lawsuits challenging California's AB 1709, which would restrict addictive social media features for users under 16 starting January 1, 2027.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Google, Meta and TikTok have each filed separate federal lawsuits challenging California's Assembly Bill 1709, a law designed to restrict addictive social media features for users under 16. The law is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.
AB 1709 would restrict features such as personalized recommendations, infinite scrolling, autoplay and notifications for users younger than 16. The legislation was authored by Long Beach Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on September 10, 2026.
The law also requires platforms to implement "reasonable measures" to verify users' ages so those under 16 are not given access to the restricted features. Knowing violations carry civil penalties of up to $50,000 per affected minor; negligent violations reach up to $25,000 per affected minor.
All three companies argue the law violates their First Amendment free speech rights. Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads, says the law lets California determine how online content is displayed, organized and recommended. Its lawsuit claims the law makes California "the editor, curator, and controller of online speech."
Google, which owns YouTube, argues the restrictions could interfere with recommendations for age-appropriate and educational videos. A Google spokesperson said: "We believe parents are best positioned to make the right decisions for their families, which is why we offer a range of protections and tools that put parents in control. Overly broad laws like this actually break the systems we’ve built to help kids find high-quality, age-appropriate videos."
TikTok argues the law could override parents’ decisions about their child’s social media usage. A TikTok spokesperson called AB 1709 "a blatantly unconstitutional restriction on free expression that erodes the long-standing and protected practice of curating content based on user preferences, which book stores, TV networks and streaming services all use."
The companies also argue that the restrictions conflict with Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which generally protects online platforms from being held liable for content posted by third-party users.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office said it was reviewing the lawsuits but remained committed to defending the state’s online child-safety laws. Newsom has framed the restrictions as an effort to protect children from potentially harmful social media features.
Lowenthal says the goal is to prevent technology companies from using features he believes are deliberately designed to keep children engaged for extended periods. He told NBC4: "We have a multi-trillion dollar sector that's mining our children's attention span for a profit."
The lawsuits are the latest legal challenges in California’s attempts to regulate social media platforms. In 2024, the state passed Senate Bill 976, which put a restriction on addictive social media feeds for minors without parental consent. That law has also faced legal challenges. Whether AB 1709 takes effect as planned in January depends on the courts’ decisions.
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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