Tech Giants Sue Over California Social Media Law

Google, Meta, and TikTok filed separate lawsuits in federal courts in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Jose to block a California law aimed at protecting children from social media risks. The tech companies contend the statute violates their rights under the First Amendment. They also argue the law conflicts with Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, a federal provision that shields platforms from liability for content posted by third parties.

The legislation, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September, takes effect on Jan. 1, 2027. It prohibits companies from offering addictive feeds, endless scrolling, and autoplayed videos to users under 16. The law requires platforms to implement reasonable measures, including age verification, to ensure younger users do not access these features.

The legal challenges arrive as the industry faces growing scrutiny over its impact on youth. In August, Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion and add stronger child-safety measures to Facebook and Instagram. That settlement ended a trial over teen addiction and resolved claims from nearly every state. TikTok also settled with Alabama in September regarding addictive features.

TikTok described the law as a restriction on free expression that erodes the practice of curating content based on user preferences. The company noted that bookstores, TV networks, and streaming services use similar curation methods. It argued the law disregards progress in making teens safer and limits free speech while taking away parents' rights to determine what is appropriate for their children.

Meta stated that the law allows the government to dictate how ideas are organized and shared with Californians. The company warned that it would be forced to either remove features that keep teen experiences age-appropriate or cut thousands of California teens off from family, friends, and communities. Meta filed its complaint in Los Angeles federal court.

Google, which filed in San Jose, said parents are in the best position to make decisions for their families. The company pointed to its range of parental control tools and protections. Spokesman José Castañeda said overly broad laws break the systems built to help kids find high-quality, age-appropriate videos.

The office of California Attorney General Rob Bonta, the defendant in all three cases, said Thursday that it was reviewing the filings. The office stated it is committed to defending state laws designed to protect kids online.