Google, Meta and TikTok sue California over child protection law

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 5 Nov, 22:21 · Archive

Google, Meta and TikTok have filed lawsuits seeking to block a California law designed to protect children from social media harms.

Google, Meta and TikTok filed separate lawsuits in federal courts in San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Jose, California, seeking to block the state law. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the legislation in September. It is scheduled to take effect on 1 January 2027.

The law prohibits tech companies from offering addictive feeds, endless scrolling and autoplayed videos to children under 16. Companies must implement 'reasonable measures' to verify users' ages and prevent under-16s accessing the addictive features. The companies argue the law violates their First Amendment rights and Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, which shields tech companies from liability for material posted by third parties.

The lawsuits come as tech companies face increasing scrutiny over their platforms' effects on children, with thousands of lawsuits filed by schools, governments and individual plaintiffs. In August, Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion and strengthen child-safety measures on Facebook and Instagram following a landmark settlement over teen social media addiction involving nearly every state. In September, TikTok settled with Alabama over addictive features.

How it is being reported

• Google, Meta and TikTok sue California over law designed to protect children from social media harmsGoogle, Meta and TikTok filed separate lawsuits seeking to block a California law designed to protect children from the risks of social media, arguing that it violates their rights under the First Amendment.Clickorlando · 5 Nov, 21:38
• Google, Meta and TikTok sue California over law designed to protect children from social media harmsGoogle, Meta and TikTok filed separate lawsuits seeking to block a California law designed to protect children from the risks of social media, arguing that it violates their rights under the First Amendment.News4Jax · 5 Nov, 21:38

In this story: Google · Meta · TikTok · California · Gavin Newsom

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