California Defends Website Design Law as Protecting Children

A tech industry-backed trade group argued Thursday that California’s first-in-the-nation law is an unconstitutional, overly broad attack on speech and urged a federal judge block the statute from going into effect.

The landmark Age-Appropriate Design Code requires platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and online video games to boost privacy and safety protections for teens and children, including limiting the amount of information collected. The law passed last year is effective in July 2024.

“It seems to me that the laudable goals of this legislation are only met by banning children from the internet, and it’s not going ...