Texas Social Media Child Safety Law Fails Free Speech Hurdle

A Texas social media law that regulates content children can share and view is largely unconstitutional, a federal judge ruled Friday.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) failed to show a compelling government interest to enforce three challenged provisions, Judge Robert Pitman of the US District Court for the Western District of Texas said in granting a preliminary injunction.

The state must show the provisions are the least restrictive means to achieve its purpose, a test it failed, Pitman said.

Pitman wrote in the order that the most serious problem with the law, HB 18, is “it threatens to censor ...