Meta, Google and TikTok filed three separate federal lawsuits against California Attorney General Rob Bonta to prevent enforcement of AB 1709. The law prohibits platforms from offering autoplay videos and personalized recommendations to users under 16. It requires platforms to delete accounts where these features remain enabled, verify users’ ages and face civil penalties of up to $50,000 per minor for knowing violations. The companies are invoking the First Amendment and federal preemption, citing Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, while Bonta’s office is reviewing the complaints and remains committed to enforcing the law. AB 1709 is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027, unless a court blocks it, shortly after Meta reached a $17 billion multistate settlement over concerns about compulsive platform use by minors.
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