Google, Meta and TikTok sue California over law designed to protect children from social media harms

On November 5, three major social media companies – Google, Meta Platforms, and TikTok – filed lawsuits in California to prevent the enforcement of a new state law aimed at limiting the risk of addictive online content for children under the age of 16. The law, Assembly Bill 1709, prohibits these platforms from offering psychologically exploitative features to underage users, such as personalized recommendations and autoplay functions.

It also mandates the deletion of children's accounts that have these features. Google, Meta, and TikTok argue that the law infringes upon their First Amendment rights and Section 230 protections, which shield online platforms from liability for user-generated content. The companies claim the law improperly requires them to adhere to California's content curation preferences, rather than allowing parents to make those decisions.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who enforces the state's laws, has not yet commented on the lawsuits. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law on September 10, emphasizing the importance of children's safety in technology discussions. The law has faced criticism from some who argue it overreaches by restricting children's online access.

Digital rights groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation have called the legislation a "massive privacy and free speech nightmare." While many US states regulate children's access to social media, countries worldwide also have similar restrictions. In August, Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion and limit teenagers' use of its platforms under agreements with numerous US states alleging privacy and consumer protection violations.

Google, Meta, TikTok, and Snap are still facing numerous lawsuits from individuals, school districts, municipalities, and other entities claiming the companies attempted to addict children and caused mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and suicide.