Oral argument is scheduled for April 2 at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in NetChoice, LLC v. Bonta. Case 25-146 concerns California’s 2024 law (SB-976) that places restrictions on social media feeds for minors. These restrictions pose privacy and security risks, consumer privacy advocates say (see 2502070019).
Parents “don’t stand a chance” of protecting children against data-driven algorithms on social media, Texas House Rep. Jared Patterson (R) said Wednesday.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti (R) urged the U.S. District Court of Middle Tennessee on Friday to deny NetChoice’s request for a preliminary injunction on a bill requiring age verification to access social media accounts following the decision in CCIA & NetChoice v. Uthmeier (see 2503170061). NetChoice responded Tuesday, asking the court to grant the preliminary injunction and enjoin the AG from enforcing HB-1891, as the ruling in the Uthmeier case “has no bearing here.”
NetChoice filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Middle Louisiana against Attorney General Liz Murrill (R) over an act that would require age verification before a user could access social media platforms. The action Tuesday alleges the legislation violates the First Amendment and poses a serious threat to online safety and cybersecurity.
The U.S. District Court for Northern Florida on Monday dismissed a case against Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier (R) over a bill prohibiting kids 13 and younger from creating social media accounts and requiring parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds to create accounts. The Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA) and NetChoice, plaintiffs in the case, failed to allege standing, the court said.
Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey (D) raised privacy concerns Monday concerning a social media bill requiring age verification. Maine’s joint Judiciary Committee received testimony on LD-844, which would require age verification and ban accounts for kids younger than 14, while allowing them for 14- and 15-year-olds with parental consent (see 2503060022).
Though Texas lawmakers agree that the youth mental health crisis is a serious issue and social media has direct negative ties, they deliberated whether a bill requiring warning labels for social media platforms is detailed enough to be successful during a House Public Health Committee meeting Monday.
The U.S. District Court for Northern Florida on Thursday denied a Computer and Communications Industry Association motion for a preliminary injunction against a state kids social media bill. CCIA failed to show likelihood of standing, the court said.
Google slammed Meta this week for supporting state bills requiring app stores to verify users’ ages. However, an advocacy group for children online rejected the idea of a single best way to verify ages.
Expect House Republicans to take up a Senate-passed deepfake porn bill “promptly,” Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said Thursday (see 2503050017).