Google, Meta and TikTok have sued California to block enforcement of a new state law intended to limit the risk of addicting children under 16 to social media platforms, according to a report by Johana Bhuiyan and agencies published by The Guardian.
The Guardian reported that the law, known as Assembly Bill 1709, prohibits social media platforms from offering minors features such as autoplay that lead to compulsive use. According to the outlet, the measure applies to children under 16 and is intended to reduce the risk that they become addicted to these platforms.
The Guardian reported that the three companies filed their suits to halt enforcement of the statute. Its summary of the report does not say which court received the filings, what legal arguments the companies raised, or whether a judge has yet acted on their requests.
The summary of The Guardian's report available for this account ends partway through its description of the prohibited features. As a result, this account cannot describe every category of feature the law covers, and readers seeking the full list should consult the original report.
The Guardian's headline describes the law as one meant to protect children from addiction risk, while the lawsuits seek to block its enforcement. The outlet's account presents the two positions side by side without stating the companies' reasons in detail.
The report was credited to Johana Bhuiyan and agencies. The Guardian's account is the only source used in this story, and no other outlet's reporting on the lawsuits has been reviewed for it.