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Three tech firms challenge California curbs on social media features for under-16s
Developing story first seen 43 minutes ago
Meta, Google and TikTok have each sued California Attorney General Rob Bonta, seeking to block a state law that restricts certain social media features for users under 16. The lawsuits bring the platforms into a legal fight over whether the rules protect teenagers or unlawfully limit free expression and companies’ choices about how to present content.
The law, AB 1709, was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in September and is due to take effect at the start of the new year. It bars autoplay videos and personalised feeds for under-16s, and requires platforms to delete their accounts if those features remain enabled; fines could reach $50,000 per affected user. The companies also argue the law limits parents’ control, while digital safety advocates warn age checks could collect more personal data and reduce young people’s access to information.
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In short
- Meta, Google and TikTok are challenging California’s teen social media law.
- AB 1709 restricts autoplay and personalised feeds for under-16s.
- Critics say age checks could threaten privacy and access to information.
How this story developed
- 12 minutes ago The latest account specifies that the Electronic Frontier Foundation is among the critics warning that age checks could threaten privacy and young people’s access to information.
- 22 minutes ago Meta, Google and TikTok sued California Attorney General Rob Bonta over AB 1709, which is due to take effect at the start of the new year and restricts autoplay and personalised feeds for under-16s.
Coverage · 2 sources
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by TechCrunch as “Meta, Google, and TikTok sue California AG over teen social media law”.