What we know

What we know: Google, Meta and TikTok sue California over law designed to protect children from social media harms

Compiled Nov 5

What we know

Google, Meta and TikTok filed separate lawsuits seeking to block a California law designed to protect children from social media risks.
The law prohibits tech companies from offering addictive feeds, endless scrolling and autoplayed videos to users under 16, and requires age verification measures.
The law is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027, and was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September.
The lawsuits were filed in federal courts in San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Jose, California.
The companies argue the law violates both the First Amendment and Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act.
In August, Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion and add child-safety measures to Facebook and Instagram as part of a settlement over teen social media addiction.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office said it was still reviewing the lawsuit filings.

Will courts block the California law before it takes effect in 2027?
How will the First Amendment and Section 230 claims be resolved?
What specific age-verification methods would companies be required to use?
Could other states introduce similar legislation regardless of this legal challenge?

Drawn from the Associated Press report. “What we don’t know” lists only what the reporting itself flags as unresolved.