Activism

U.S. District Court Temporarily Blocks California’s Law Aiming to Protect Children from Social Media Addiction

Supporters of the legislation say it protects youth from social media addiction.NetChoice, an advocacy group that promotes freedom of choice on the internet, filed the lawsuit with the District Court. The court issued a stay that now allows the case, NetChoice v. Bonta (2024), to head to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Published

1 year ago

January 11, 2025

Oakland Post

iStock.

By Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted a request by advocates for free expression and free enterprise on the Internet to halt a California’s internet surveillance law, Senate Bill (SB) 976, from going into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.

Supporters of the legislation say it protects youth from social media addiction.NetChoice, an advocacy group that promotes freedom of choice on the internet, filed the lawsuit with the District Court. The court issued a stay that now allows the case, NetChoice v. Bonta (2024), to head to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

“While we are disappointed that the District Court did not grant our entire preliminary injunction, we are glad it agreed to issue this temporary stay while we appeal,” said Paul Taske, NetChoice Associate Director of Litigation in a statement.

“We look forward to seeing California in the Ninth Circuit to yet again stop the state from creating an online censorship regime.”

Responding, California Attorney General Rob Bonta says he is pleased “the court understands the importance of giving California’s families choice.”

“California’s landmark law allows young people to intentionally develop the relationship they want with social media, rather than the relationship that is most profitable for companies using tricks and traps to glue young people’s eyes to their screens,” Bonta said in a Dec. 31 statement.