Google, Meta and TikTok filed separate lawsuits seeking to block a California law designed to protect children from the risks of social media, arguing that it violates their First Amendment rights.
The law, which is scheduled to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2027, prohibits tech companies from offering addictive feeds, endless scrolling and autoplayed videos to kids under 16. They must also implement “reasonable measures” to make sure those under 16 are not given access to the addictive features by verifying users’ ages. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed it into law in September.
The companies each filed their lawsuits in federal courts in San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Jose, California. In addition to the First Amendment, TikTok, Meta and Google argue that the law violates Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, which shields tech companies from liability for material posted on their sites by third parties.
addictive feeds, endless scrolling and autoplayed videos
All great examples of free speech. Up there wired money
Corporations should have no rights.
The main problem is how a user’s age is verified for laws like this. Why not just make the same law apply to the entire platform? I think all of us could benefit from less addictive social media.
geez, at least start them off with something like that:
Pretty sure since they’re under 18, they should be protected, regardless of any stupid fucking company bullshit.
Go figure they’re trying to play the first amendment card. But since companies aren’t people, nor are they the press (repost/sharing by users doesn’t count), they don’t fall under constitutional protections IMO.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
But arnt companies people. Isn’t that the whole hobby lobby thing that happened years ago?
Why do people HATE us?
-Companies SUING to STOP Child Protection Laws!
Why didn’t corporations sue to prevent government id verification of users?
That wouldn’t hurt their bottom line as much.
Are they out of their minds?
autoplayed videos
I mean, that’s basically what television is.
Sure…if TV also collected all of your preferences and then selected from millions of videos to pick the show you’d stay up for and watch. See the evil difference?
