Google, Meta and TikTok sue California over kids’ social media law

Three major tech platforms—Google, Meta, and TikTok—have separately filed federal lawsuits against California’s AB 1709, signed into law in September and set to take effect in 2027, alleging that the measure infringes free speech, overrides parental prerogatives, and conflicts with federal online protections.

The law would prohibit covered platforms from providing California users under 16 with certain “psychologically exploitative features” and would require age verification before offering restricted features such as personalised feeds and autoplay. It does not bar minors from using platforms; instead, it allows the platform to delete the account or remove the restricted features, while preserving other access, including search, private messages, and some content recommendations subject to conditions.

The attorney general would be empowered to define additional features via regulations. The claims from the companies emphasise that many of these features are editorial decisions or products designed to curate content, not merely mechanisms to keep users engaged.

California argues that harm extends beyond what children see online to how services encourage ongoing use through personalised recommendations and autoplay. The lawsuits hinge on whether these features constitute harmful product design that the state can regulate, or editorial choices protected by First Amendment rights. The filings also raise parental-control points, with Google stressing that parents should decide what is appropriate, and TikTok pointing to its teen safeguards and Family Pairing controls.

The proceedings could have wider implications, given the potential privacy impact of required age checks on adults and the burden of compliance on platforms’ business models, which rely heavily on engagement and advertising.