Google, Meta, TikTok Sue California Over Child-Safety Law

Google, Meta and TikTok have filed separate federal lawsuits seeking to block California’s AB 1709, which restricts features such as autoplay and personalized recommendations for users under 16 and requires removal of accounts using those features. The companies argue the law violates the First Amendment and Section 230 and improperly overrides parents’ choices. Signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, the law is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2027, unless courts halt it; California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office says it is reviewing the challenges. The lawsuits add to broader disputes over protecting children online, as the platforms face claims that their services contribute to compulsive use and mental-health harms. Critics of the law have also warned it could threaten privacy and free expression.