Legal Clash Over California Kids’ Data Sets State Power Battle

An industry group’s court challenge to California’s first-in-the-nation law meant to safeguard children online will test the state’s power against federal requirements, and potentially call into question similar legislative efforts to protect young users on social media and other digital platforms.

NetChoice, which represents companies including Meta Platforms Inc. and Alphabet Inc.‘s Google, sued to block implementation of the state’s so-called age-appropriate design code. The group’s lawsuit, filed Dec. 14, argues that California’s law would conflict with existing federal law, imposesoverly vague rules, and force businesses to over-moderate content online to avoid fines, in violation of the First ...