Meta, Google, and TikTok Sue to Block California Kids Online Safety Law

“Platforms would rather sue the state than lean into what California families overwhelmingly want,” said Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, lead author of the legislation. The lawsuits filed Wednesday challenge one of Gov. “We are challenging this law because it violates the First Amendment by letting the government dictate how ideas are organized, displayed, or shared with Californians,” a Meta spokesperson said in a statement. Meta, Google, and TikTok filed coordinated lawsuits in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on Wednesday evening, seeking to block the enforcement of California’s AB 1709. The law, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September, restricts access to features such as infinite scrolling and autoplay for users under 16, targeting what the state describes as “addictive” social media feeds.

Legal Arguments Against AB 1709

The tech companies argue that the legislation infringes upon their First Amendment rights by stifling their ability to curate and arrange content. Their legal filings rely heavily on a 2024 Supreme Court ruling that established that online platforms have a constitutional right to design algorithms that moderate and rank posts. Meta, in particular, maintains that its personalized feed features constitute protected expressive editorial decisions.

The company argues that AB 1709 violates federal protections by holding platforms liable for the formatting and arrangement of third-party content. Google and TikTok submitted similar complaints, requesting that the court declare the law unconstitutional and issue an order enjoining Attorney General Rob Bonta from enforcing it.

Tech Firms Criticize Broad Law Restricting Content

Representatives for the tech firms criticized the scope of the law. Google spokesperson José Castañeda described the measure as overly broad, noting that it interferes with tools designed to help younger users find age-appropriate content. He added that the company believes parents are best positioned to make the right decisions for their families. A TikTok spokesperson labeled the legislation a blatantly unconstitutional restriction on free expression that erodes the long-standing and protected practice of curating content based on user preferences.

Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, the lead author of the bill, dismissed the lawsuits as straight out of the big tech playbook. He argued that the companies are prioritizing profit over child safety. It’s just a continuation of big tech’s fight to addict children for profit, Lowenthal said in a text message. As disappointing as this development is, I do trust the courts will put children’s safety over corporate greed. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Attorney General Bonta stated that the office is currently reviewing the filings and remains committed to defending California’s commonsense laws to protect kids online.