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Google, Meta, and TikTok want to sue the state of Arkansas over a law that requires social platforms to verify a user’s age. The tech firms believe the law violates the US Constitution and breaches users’ privacy.
US lawmakers have passed several bills to safeguard children’s privacy online and on social platforms. While there is no evidence yet of how these bills worked, the state of Arkansas passed a bill that obligates tech firms to check a user’s age and prevent underage children from using the platform.
NetChoice, a tech trade group that represents Google, Meta, and TikTok, is now opposing the bill by claiming it contradicts the US Constitution. Additionally, these tech firms say the Social Media Safety Act violates First Amendment free speech rights as it requires users to hand over their private data to companies. NetChoice further claims that the law is an “unconstitutional power grab,” that “seizes decision making” from families.
Google, Meta, and TikTok will sue Arkansas over Social Media Safety Act
The Social Media Safety Act is a set of principles to keep users safe by asking them to submit their IDs or driver’s licenses before opening an account. Under-age children need to take parents’ consent before using social platforms. While this law seems to work to protect children, the tech firms say it has serious privacy issues in addition to ignoring existing federal law.
NetChoice argues that the law forces platforms to rely on a third-party service to track, verify, and store children’s data. Beyond that, the users won’t be in direct contact with the third-party service that holds their data. NetChoice added that these third-party services would be a prime target for hackers and bad actors.
In a statement to Engadget, State Attorney General Tim Griffin said he looks forward to “vigorously defending” the Social Media Safety Act. The case is submitted to US District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. The court will issue the final ruling, but tech firms are unlikely to win the case as lawmakers have already shown strong support for similar legislation.
Senator Josh Hawley has proposed a bill that prohibits kids under 16 from using social platforms. Besides Arkansas, Utah, Connecticut, and Ohio have also passed similar bills. The concerns about children’s safety on online platforms increased after a pedophile network was found on Meta-owned Instagram.