Meta, TikTok, Google sue California over AB 1709 child engagement law
First merged summary.
Meta, TikTok and Google filed lawsuits challenging California’s AB 1709 that blocks psychologically exploitative features for users 15 and under.
Meta, TikTok and Google filed coordinated lawsuits in California federal courts against Assembly Bill 1709. The law prohibits certain engagement-maximizing features for users 15 and under and takes effect in 2027. Companies argue it violates the First Amendment and Section 230. California Attorney General Rob Bonta will defend the law to protect children. The law requires age verification and allows additional features to be defined by the AG.
- Lawsuits filed in California federal courts by Meta, TikTok and Google
- AB 1709 blocks psychologically exploitative features for users 15 and under
- Law effective January 1, 2027
- Companies cite free speech and Section 230 violations
- Requires age verification; exceptions for searched content and private messages
- AG Bonta committed to defending law for child protection
What each outlet adds
beyond the shared facts- The RecordLawsuits filed in San Jose, San Francisco and Los Angeles; AG Bonta defends law for children; Google spokesperson on parental rights
- Malwarebytes LabsProhibits autoplay and personalized feeds for under-16s; age verification required; business model impacts; exceptions for searched content
- Organizations
- California Attorney General
- Countries
- United States
Coverage
oldest first · one row per article · UTC- · 3d ago
The RecordFirst report
Meta, TikTok, Google sue California over kids protection law
Tech giants are challenging a new California law shielding children 15 and under from addictive platform features by arguing it violates free speech and Section 230.
- · 3d ago
Malwarebytes Labs
Big Tech sues California over kids’ scrolling restrictions
Google, Meta, and TikTok filed federal lawsuits challenging California’s AB 1709, which bans autoplay and personalized feeds for under-16s starting in 2027.