Google, Meta and TikTok sue California to block law protecting minors

Google, Meta and TikTok have initiated separate lawsuits against California in an attempt to block a new state law intended to reduce the risk of social media addiction among children under 16. Known as Assembly Bill 1709, the legislation prohibits online platforms from providing what it terms “psychologically exploitative features,” such as autoplay videos and personalized content recommendations. The law, which Governor Gavin Newsom signed on 10 September, further requires platforms to delete accounts belonging to children if these features are not disabled. Unless a judge intervenes, the regulations are scheduled to take effect on 1 January 2027.

In their legal filings, the tech companies argue that the law wrongly replaces parental judgment with state mandates and infringes upon their editorial discretion. Google filed its lawsuit in federal court in San Jose, Meta in San Francisco, and TikTok in Los Angeles. The companies contend that the legislation violates First Amendment free speech protections and conflicts with Section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act, which generally protects online platforms from liability regarding user content. Meta specifically noted in its complaint that the state cannot override its editorial judgments regarding how to curate billions of posts.

The office of California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who is the sole defendant, stated on Thursday that it is reviewing the lawsuits. “Our office is committed to defending California’s commonsense laws to protect kids online,” a representative said. Governor Newsom previously remarked that children’s safety must be central to technology discussions, asserting that California “will not stand by while unregulated technology puts our children at risk.”

A Google spokesperson, Jose Castaneda, argued on Thursday that the legislation is overly broad and could undermine existing systems designed to provide age-appropriate content. “Parents are best positioned to make the right decisions for their families,” he said, adding that Google already offers tools for parents to manage their children's access. TikTok stated that protected speech “cannot be suppressed solely to protect the young from ideas or images that a legislative body thinks unsuitable.”

The legislation has faced criticism from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which labeled it “a massive privacy and free speech nightmare.” Rindala Alajaji, the group’s associate director of state affairs, argued that the law would force platforms to collect more data, thereby invading user privacy and hindering online anonymity. She also suggested that the bill could cut young people off from essential information and digital activism.

These lawsuits occur as the companies face thousands of other legal challenges from school districts, municipalities, and individuals claiming their platforms have caused a mental health crisis among youth. Meta recently agreed to pay up to $18 billion to settle claims with nearly all US states regarding allegations that it violated privacy and consumer protection laws. Furthermore, a new lawsuit was filed by parents in California on Thursday alleging that their teen daughter planned to end her life following interactions with AI mode on a school-issued Google Chromebook.

The debate over regulating children’s social media access is ongoing globally. Australia recently implemented a ban on social media for children under 16, and other countries have pursued similar restrictions. The California law includes a provision that could see platforms face fines of up to $50,000 per affected user if they fail to comply with the new requirements.