Meta, Google, TikTok sue California over teen social media law
Original: Meta, Google, and TikTok sue California AG over teen social media law
Why This Matters
Sets up a major First Amendment test for state-level teen online safety laws nationwide.
Meta, Google, and TikTok filed separate lawsuits against California AG Rob Bonta on Nov. 5, 2026, seeking to block AB 1709, which bans autoplay and personalized feeds for under-16 users starting Jan. 1, with fines up to $50,000 per affected minor.
California's AB 1709, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in September 2026, bans social platforms from offering autoplay video and personalized feeds to users under 16. Platforms that don't disable those features must delete the minor accounts — or face fines reaching $50,000 per affected user.
All three companies argue the law violates the First Amendment by overriding their editorial decisions on content display, and that Section 230 preempts it. Meta's filing states the law would make it "unlawful for Meta to disseminate speech to minors altogether" unless it restructures its core feed mechanics. TikTok called AB 1709 "a blatantly unconstitutional restriction on free expression," comparing algorithmic curation to practices used by bookstores, TV networks, and streaming services.
Critics beyond the platforms also raised alarms. EFF Associate Director Rindala Alajaji argued the law forces platforms to collect more data from every user — not just teens — to verify ages, undermining privacy for all. She also noted that youth social media use has powered movements like March for Our Lives and Greta Thunberg's climate activism, warning the law effectively silences the voices it claims to protect.