Meta, Google and TikTok sue California over teen social media law

Meta, Google and TikTok have each sued California Attorney General Rob Bonta to block AB 1709, a law taking effect at the start of the new year that bans autoplay videos and personalised feeds for users under 16.

Why it matters: The suits set up a First Amendment fight over how far US states can go in regulating platform design for children, with fines of up to $50,000 per affected user if the platforms do not comply.

Data as of TechCrunch report of November 5, 2026, read in full in this run; the filings were also reported the same day by The Guardian, Politico and Investing.com in the wire queue. Developing item.

Meta, Google and TikTok have each filed lawsuits against California Attorney General Rob Bonta seeking to block AB 1709, which Governor Gavin Newsom signed in September and which takes effect at the start of the new year. The law prohibits platforms from offering autoplay videos and personalised feeds to users under 16 and requires them to delete the accounts of under-16 users who do not turn those features off, with fines of up to $50,000 per affected user for non-compliance.

Meta argues the law violates the First Amendment by overriding its editorial decisions about how to display content, and that Section 230 preempts it; TikTok and Google make similar arguments, and Google says autoplay on YouTube is already off by default for minors. A representative for Bonta said his office is reviewing the filings and is committed to defending California’s laws to protect children online.

Meta, Google and TikTok sue California over teen social media law

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