A tech lobby representing major social media providers filed a federal lawsuit to prevent a California law from coming into effect that aims to protect youth from social media addiction, arguing that the measure violates the First Amendment.
On Sept. 20, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law SB 976, the Protecting Our Kids from Social Media Addiction Act. The bill prohibits digital platforms from knowingly providing an addictive feed to a minor without parental consent, along with tackling other harms.
On Nov. 12, NetChoice, a trade association of internet companies, filed a lawsuit against California Attorney General Rob Bonta in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The complaint accuses the state of “attempting to unconstitutionally regulate minors’ access to protected online speech—impairing adults’ access along the way.”…