Meta, TikTok, and Google Challenge California's Child Online Safety Law in Court

Google, Meta, and TikTok have taken legal action against California, challenging a recently enacted law aimed at enhancing child online safety. These tech behemoths have filed lawsuits in response to Assembly Bill 1709, which prohibits social media platforms from offering 'psychologically exploitative features' to children under 16 years old ¹²³⁴.

The bill mandates that social media companies must delete accounts with specific features if they belong to users under 16, effectively restricting their access to certain functionalities that are considered highly engaging or addictive ²⁴. This move by California lawmakers seeks to protect young users from potentially harmful aspects of social media, such as autoplay videos and personalized content feeds, which can keep children glued to screens for extended periods ⁴.

The tech giants argue that the law infringes upon their constitutional rights, specifically citing violations of the First Amendment and Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act ²⁴. They contend that these legal protections allow them to operate freely without undue interference from state regulations. Should the law remain unchallenged, non-compliant platforms could face significant financial penalties, with fines reaching up to $50,000 per affected user under 16 ⁴.

California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta is leading the defense of AB 1709, asserting that the law is crucial for safeguarding children’s well-being in the digital age ²⁴. The law is scheduled to come into effect on January 1, 2027, unless a judicial intervention blocks its implementation ²⁴.

This legal battle comes amidst growing concerns about the impact of social media on younger users. In August, Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion and limit teenagers' use of Facebook and Instagram, reflecting broader worries about the effects of social media on mental health and development ². Similarly, Google faced criticism for its use of AI tools on school devices, leading to another legal challenge ².

AB 1709 is part of a global trend towards regulating social media for children. Australia was the first country to implement a ban on social media for users under 16, while France attempted a similar law but saw it overturned by its highest court ⁴.

What we know

• Google, Meta, and TikTok have filed lawsuits against California ¹²³⁴
• The lawsuits are in response to Assembly Bill 1709, which bans certain features for children on social media platforms ¹²³⁴
• AB 1709 mandates the deletion of children's accounts with certain features ²⁴
• The law argues that it violates the First Amendment and Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act ²⁴
• AB 1709 restricts social media features deemed addictive for users under 16 ⁴
• AB 1709 prohibits social platforms from offering autoplay videos and personalized feeds to users under 16 ⁴
• Non-compliant platforms could face fines of up to $50,000 per affected user under 16 ⁴
• AB 1709 is seen as a functional ban on social media for youth under 16 ⁴
• California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office is defending the law ²⁴
• The law will take effect on January 1, 2027, unless blocked by a judge ²⁴