Google, Meta and TikTok filed separate federal lawsuits on Wednesday seeking to block California’s AB 1709, a law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in September that is set to take effect on January 1, 2027.

The law would restrict platforms from offering users under 16 features it defines as designed to encourage compulsive use, including infinite scroll, autoplay and personalized feeds, and requires companies to take reasonable steps to prevent minors from receiving them.

Platforms would have to remove covered features unless young users disable them and delete accounts that do not comply; violations could carry fines of up to $50,000 per affected minor.

Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal introduced the law, citing anxiety and depression among children who grew up with digital devices and arguing that engagement features can harm developing brains.

The companies say AB 1709 violates the First Amendment by dictating how they curate and display third-party content, and that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act preempts the law.

Meta argues that the restrictions could make it unlawful to share speech with minors, forcing the company either to change its feed practices or stop distributing content to young users and delete their accounts; TikTok calls the law an unconstitutional restriction on expression and content curation.

Google says YouTube’s personalized recommendations help surface age-appropriate videos and that autoplay is off by default for minors, arguing the law could disrupt tools meant to provide safe, enriching experiences for young users.

TikTok also argues AB 1709 conflicts with Senate Bill 976 because it could prevent parents from allowing personalized feeds even when they use safeguards such as TikTok’s Family Pairing tools.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Rindala Alajaji warns that age checks could increase data collection and threaten privacy and anonymity for users of all ages, while the restrictions could also limit young people’s access to information, experiences and digital activism.

Lennon Torres of the Heat Initiative rejected the companies’ free-speech arguments, saying the dispute concerns a business model that profits from keeping children scrolling despite potential risks.

Rob Bonta’s office said it was reviewing the lawsuits and would defend California’s laws intended to protect children online.

The cases add to a wider legal fight over California’s social-media regulations, including a separate challenge to SB 976 that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals may hear next spring.