Google, Meta and TikTok sue to block California law limiting addictive features for under-16s

The lawsuits

On Wednesday, 4 November 2026, Google, Meta and TikTok each filed a separate lawsuit seeking to block Assembly Bill 1709, a California law meant to limit the risk that children under 16 become hooked on social media. Politico reported that Meta filed first in what it described as a coordinated push, and that its case was lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. AP reported filings in courts in the San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Jose areas. Attorney General Rob Bonta is the only defendant in the cases, and the companies want a court to block enforcement of the statute.

What the law requires

The statute bars platforms from giving under-16s features that can drive compulsive use, including infinite scrolling, autoplay and personalized recommendations. It prohibits platforms from offering minors "psychologically exploitative features" and requires them to delete the accounts of children who have those features enabled. AP reports that platforms must also take "reasonable measures" to verify ages so that under-16s cannot reach the addictive features. Newsom signed the bill on 10 September 2026, and it takes effect on 1 January 2027 unless a judge voids it or pauses it. At signing, Newsom said children's safety should sit at the center of any technology debate. Politico describes the measure as one of Newsom's marquee policy achievements in his final year, ahead of a likely 2028 presidential bid.

The legal arguments

All three companies argue that the law breaches the First Amendment, and each also invokes Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, a 1996 federal statute that protects platforms from liability over user posts. Politico reports that the filings rely in large part on a 2024 Supreme Court decision, which the outlet describes as giving platforms a constitutional right to design the algorithms that moderate and rank posts. Meta's complaint puts its position most directly.

“The state cannot, consistent with the First Amendment, override Meta's editorial judgments.”

TikTok called the measure "a blatantly unconstitutional restriction on free expression" and said it erodes long-standing practices of curating content based on user preferences. Google's response came from spokesperson Jose Castaneda on Thursday, 5 November.

“Parents are best positioned to make the right decisions for their families.”

Scrutiny and settlements

The three companies already face thousands of lawsuits from schools, governments and individuals who argue their platforms addict children and harm their mental health. In August 2026, Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion and add stronger child-safety measures to Facebook and Instagram. That settlement ended a trial over teen social media addiction and resolved claims filed by nearly every state. Engadget reports that Meta still denies wrongdoing. In September, TikTok settled with Alabama over addictive features.

State response and next steps

On Thursday, 5 November 2026, the office of Attorney General Rob Bonta said it was reviewing the filings. The office also pledged to defend the state's laws.

“Our office is committed to defending California's commonsense laws to protect kids online.”

Bonta is the sole defendant in all three cases, so his office will carry the state's defence in court. Engadget describes the lawsuits as still in their early stages and says it will update readers as they move through the California court system. Unless a judge voids or pauses the statute first, it takes effect on 1 January 2027.