Google, Meta and TikTok sue California over AB 1709 kids law

The companies' argument

The companies say the law violates the First Amendment and Section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act, which has often shielded tech firms from liability. "The state cannot, consistent with the First Amendment, override Meta's editorial judgments," Meta wrote in its complaint. Google and TikTok made similar arguments.

They are not alone in their criticism. The nonprofit Electronic Frontier Foundation has called the law "a massive privacy and free speech nightmare" and unsuccessfully urged Newsom to veto it. Newsom, for his part, said when signing the law that children's safety should always come first and that the state "will not stand by while unregulated technology puts our children at risk."

Wider pressure on the industry

The dispute comes as the companies face thousands of lawsuits from individuals, school districts, cities and government entities, all claiming that social media platforms addict children and have fueled a mental health crisis. Many states already regulate minors' access to social media.

Meta recently agreed to pay up to $18 billion to settle a high-profile case over children's privacy and social media addiction. As part of that deal, the company says it will change its platforms to make them less addictive for young users, though it still denies any wrongdoing.

The new lawsuits are at an early stage, and the cases will now move through the California court system.