GoKawiilGoogle, Meta and TikTok sue California over child social-media addiction law AB 1709
Google, Meta and TikTok have filed separate lawsuits challenging California's Assembly Bill 1709, which bans 'psychologically exploitative' features like personalized feeds, infinite scroll and autoplay for users under 16 and requires age verification. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the law in September as part of a broader social media and AI safety package, with it set to take effect January 1, 2027. The companies argue the law violates the First Amendment and Section 230, saying it overrides their editorial judgment and parents' authority.
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The lawsuits suggest tech platforms view California's rules as a template other states could copy, making an early legal challenge strategically important for the industry. The companies' framing—that parents, not regulators, should control children's online experience—echoes arguments used in past fights against platform regulation, though California's attorney general says it will defend the law. The outcome could shape how far states can go in regulating algorithmic design features aimed at protecting minors.
- Google, Meta and TikTok filed separate suits against California's AB 1709 over child-targeted algorithmic features.
- The law, signed by Gov. Newsom in September, targets personalized feeds, autoplay and endless scroll for under-16 users starting January 2027.
- Companies cite First Amendment and Section 230 protections; California's AG says it will defend the law in court.
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Published there as: “Google, Meta, and TikTok sue California over law banning addictive social media features for children”
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