Google, Meta and TikTok sue California over teen content restrictions
Google, Meta and TikTok have filed separate federal lawsuits challenging a new California law that limits certain features for users under 16, citing First Amendment rights and existing federal protections.
Technology companies Google, Meta and TikTok filed separate lawsuits on Wednesday in federal court to block California's Assembly Bill 1709, which bars platforms from offering features such as autoplay and recommended content displays to users younger than 16. The companies argue the law infringes on their First Amendment free-speech rights and conflicts with the Communications Decency Act, which shields platforms from liability for third-party content.
Meta, which operates Instagram, Facebook and Threads, sued in the Northern District of California, while Google and YouTube filed in the same district and TikTok filed in the Central District. Attorneys for Meta contend that the state is attempting to "appoint the State as the editor, curator and controller of online speech" and to override the company's editorial judgment.
A representative for Attorney General Rob Bonta said his office is reviewing the litigation.
Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, who authored the bill, said he was motivated by concerns about anxiety and depression among children who use smartphones and other screens. > "The addictive nature of autoplay and other features is harmful, full stop, and that they’re not appropriate for the developing brain," Lowenthal said.
TikTok's lawsuit argues that AB 1709 would prevent parents who have set limits and enabled safety modes from using the platform for their children. > "The consequence is that a parent who has reviewed TikTok’s platform, linked her account to her fifteen-year-old’s account through Family Pairing, set a 30-minute daily screen-limit, enabled Restricted Mode, and concluded that a personalized For You feed ... is appropriate for her family has no ability under California law to make that choice," TikTok attorneys wrote.
Both Assembly Bill 1709 and the related Senate Bill 976, which also restricts certain features for minors, are scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1. The lawsuits follow previous legal challenges in California that have resulted in large settlements and ongoing efforts by the tech industry to contest state regulations on social-media design.