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Google, Meta, TikTok Sue California Over Ban on Kids' Social Media Features
Confirmed
In Short: Tech giants Google, Meta, and TikTok have filed federal lawsuits in the Northern District of California to block the enforcement of Assembly Bill 1709, which bans addictive social media features for users under 16.
The law, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in August, prohibits tech companies from offering addictive features such as endless scrolling, autoplayed videos, and personalized feeds to minors.
Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, noted that the law would force them to either remove features that keep teens' experiences age-appropriate or cut off thousands of California teens from their communities.
Google and TikTok also contend that the law would require them to collect more user information, invading privacy and frustrating their ability to remain anonymous online.
Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, who introduced AB 1709, criticized the lawsuit, saying it was a continuation of Meta's fight to addict children for profit.
The lawsuit comes as Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion and add stronger child-safety measures to its platforms as part of a landmark legal settlement over teen social media addiction.
What this adds
The lawsuit highlights the ongoing tension between tech companies and regulators over the regulation of social media features for minors.
The companies argue that the law would force them to either remove features that keep teens' experiences age-appropriate or cut off thousands of California teens from their communities.
The law's restrictions on personalized recommendations and autoplay would make it unlawful for Meta to disseminate speech to minors altogether.
What's confirmed
- Prohibiting personalized feeds and autoplay, would "make it unlawful for Meta to disseminate speech to minors altogether," the company argued.
What's still developing
- They must also implement “reasonable measures” to make sure those under 16 are not given access to the addictive features by verifying users' ages.
- In the latter case, the jury determined penalties of $375 million.
- The law describes such features as "psychologically exploitative" and intended to maximize engagement in a way that leads to compulsive use.
- In its suit, Instagram and Facebook owner Meta argued that California’s attempt to “appoint the state as the editor, curator and controller of online speech” and “override Meta’s editorial judgment” about how to display user posts violates the Constitution.
- Meta Platforms, as well as Google and YouTube, filed federal lawsuits in the Northern District of California.
- The legislation, titled Assembly Bill 1709, bars platforms from exposing minors to "psychologically exploitative features" that trigger compulsive usage, including algorithmic recommendations and autoplaying video functions.