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NetChoice, a major tech industry group, has filed a federal lawsuit challenging Georgia’s new social media law that imposes age verification requirements and restricts online access for minors under 16 without parental consent.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, NetChoice is a tech industry trade association funded by major internet and social media companies, including Meta, Google, Amazon, TikTok, and X. The group’s mission, as stated on its site, is to “make the internet safe for free enterprise and free expression.” NetChoice is highly involved in federal and state-level advocacy and litigation to oppose regulations it sees as burdensome to online businesses, particularly those involving content moderation, data privacy, and age verification. Many of these major companies choose to fund this group to avoid the optics of being directly named in lawsuits challenging state or federal laws. Notably, the group has challenged laws in states like Texas and Florida, where it filed lawsuits arguing that legislation limiting platforms’ ability to moderate content infringes on the First Amendment. It also sued California over its Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, claiming the law would harm both companies and users by restricting how platforms design services and handle data for minors.
What’s going on now: In a notable development, NetChoice has filed a federal lawsuit challenging Georgia’s newly enacted Senate Bill 351, a law that imposes strict regulations on minors’ use of social media. Set to take effect on July 1, 2025, the law requires social media platforms to verify users’ ages and prohibits anyone under 16 from creating an account without parental consent. It also limits how platforms can use personal data for advertising to minors, barring targeted ads based on anything other than age and location. The law applies broadly to platforms that allow users to create profiles, share content, and interact with others, but exempts certain types of sites like e-commerce platforms, news outlets, and gaming services.
NetChoice argues the law is unconstitutional, claiming it violates both the First and Fourteenth Amendments by infringing on free speech rights and imposing burdensome requirements on access to online services. In a statement, Paul Taske, the director of litigation for NetChoice, said, “Georgia’s SB 351 unconstitutionally blocks access to protected online speech and forces Georgians to surrender their private information just to use everyday digital services.”
The group also says the law could suppress not only commercial content but also political and educational expression, noting that even contextual ads about “higher-education opportunities, military service, and test preparation” could be prohibited.
Another view: Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr has vowed to defend the law, saying, “It’s a shame that the industry would rather file a lawsuit than partner with us to protect children from online predators.” He stressed that the law is part of a broader effort to address the mental health harms and safety risks posed by unchecked social media access.
