Tech Giants Challenge California Child Safety Law in Federal Court

Up to $18 billion in potential payments underscored the scale of the legal battle that led to the California law now facing a trio of federal challenges. The figure reflects Meta’s August settlement over teen social media addiction, which concluded a trial that saw nearly every state file claims. That resolution, alongside TikTok’s September settlement with Alabama, set the stage for the new litigation filed this week.

The new lawsuits were filed in federal courts in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Jose. Google, Meta, and TikTok each submitted separate documents seeking to block the state mandate. The law, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in September, takes effect on Jan. 1, 2027. It prohibits platforms from providing addictive feeds, endless scrolling, and autoplayed videos to users under 16. Companies must also verify ages and implement reasonable measures to prevent access to these features for younger users.

The tech firms argue the statute violates the First Amendment and Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act. Section 230 shields companies from liability for content posted by third parties. By challenging both provisions, the companies contend the law forces the government to dictate how ideas are organized and shared.

TikTok described the measure as a restriction on free expression that erodes the practice of curating content based on user preferences. The company stated that the law disregards progress in making teens safer and limits parental rights. Meta echoed this view, noting that the rule would force it to remove features that keep teen experiences age-appropriate or cut thousands of California teens off from their communities. Google’s position centered on parental control, with spokesman José Castañeda stating that overly broad laws break the systems built to help kids find high-quality videos.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta is the named defendant in all three suits. His office said Thursday it is reviewing the filings and remains committed to defending state laws that protect children online. The legal moves arrive as tech companies face heightened scrutiny over platform harms, including thousands of lawsuits from schools and individual plaintiffs.

The next step in the process involves the federal courts determining whether to block the law before its Jan. 1, 2027, effective date. The companies’ filings request an injunction to halt the implementation of the age verification and feature restrictions.