Tech Giants Sue California Over New Child Online Safety Law

Meta, TikTok, and Google have filed separate lawsuits against California to stop a new law that limits social media features for children. The companies claim the legislation infringes on their First Amendment rights. They argue the state is overstepping by regulating how platforms organize content.

The targeted law is the Digital Age Assurance Act. It is a bipartisan bill that goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2027. The law bans platforms from giving users under 16 access to feeds classified as addictive. It also requires companies to take reasonable steps to keep minors away from those specific features.

The tech companies point to two main legal conflicts. They say the law clashes with constitutional free speech protections. They also cite the federal Communications Decency Act of 1996, which protects online platforms from lawsuits over third-party content.

A spokesperson for California Attorney General Rob Bonta said his office is reviewing the filings. The office remains committed to defending the state’s protections for children online. Meta’s legal team argues the measure gives California control over editorial decisions. They contend the state is trying to displace the company’s judgment in displaying billions of posts.

TikTok argues that tailoring content to user preferences is a protected practice. Its filing notes that bookstores and television networks use similar methods. The company points to existing safeguards it already offers young users. Google’s lawsuit argues parents should decide on restrictions for their children’s use. It cites the parental controls available through its services.

These legal challenges follow recent settlements in other states. Meta and Snap Inc. settled lawsuits brought by teenagers who alleged the platforms harmed their mental health. A similar case is pending in Los Angeles, where plaintiffs claim the services were built to encourage addictive use. Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify in that trial in November.

Other child safety cases have led to large financial payments. In late August, Meta agreed to pay Texas more than $1 billion. The deal includes a default two-hour daily usage limit for users under 18. Only a parent can remove that limit. The agreement also blocks notifications during school hours.