The key facts

  • Meta, Google and TikTok have filed lawsuits against California Attorney General Rob Bonta seeking to block AB 1709
  • The law bans autoplay video and personalized feeds for users under 16; the fine is up to $50,000 per affected user
  • The companies cite the First Amendment and Section 230; EFF criticizes the law for mandatory age verification

Lawsuits against AB 1709

Meta, Google and TikTok have filed separate lawsuits against California Attorney General Rob Bonta, seeking to block AB 1709, a law that restricts social media features deemed 'addictive' for users under 16. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill in September, and it is set to take effect at the start of the new year, TechCrunch reports.

What the law bans

AB 1709 prohibits social platforms from offering users under 16 autoplay video and personalized feeds. If a user does not disable these features, the platform must delete their account. Non-compliance carries a fine of up to $50,000 for each affected user under 16.

The parties' arguments

Meta argues that the law violates the First Amendment by interfering with editorial decisions about what content to display, and that Section 230 shields it; TikTok and Google made similar arguments. Meta's lawsuit states that the law would make transmitting content to minors unlawful in general and would require deleting their accounts if the company does not change its practices. TikTok called the law 'an plainly unconstitutional restriction of freedom of expression.' Google added that autoplay on YouTube is already disabled by default for minors, parents can completely turn off access to Shorts, and that 'overly broad laws' break the child protection systems the company has built. Attorney General Bonta's spokesperson said the office is reviewing the lawsuits and intends to 'defend California's sensible child online safety laws.'

Context: a global wave of restrictions

The law fits into a global trend of restricting teenagers' social media use. In December 2025, Australia became the first country to fully ban social networks for users under 16; France passed a similar law, but the country's Constitutional Council struck it down, citing freedom of expression rights. For Meta, this comes against the backdrop of its agreement to pay up to $18 billion to settle lawsuits from 29 U.S. states over social media harm to children. Critics of the law, including EFF, point out that age verification requires collecting additional data and threatens the privacy of all users, including adults.