Meta Seeks California Shield From Child Harm Penalties in 100s of Lawsuits
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jun 26
Meta Seeks California Shield From Child Harm Penalties in 100s of Lawsuits
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jun 26
Summary
Draft amendments backed by Meta would spare social media companies from heightened child-harm penalties in California if they turn on default protections for minors.
Those settings include disabling autoplay, blocking unknown adults’ direct messages, muting nighttime notifications, limiting geolocation sharing and hiding minors’ profiles from public view, alongside parental controls on screen time and contacts.
The push could cut exposure in hundreds of pending suits against Meta, Google, TikTok and Snap; Meta and Google were already ordered to pay $6 million in a Los Angeles youth-harm case in March.
Meta made a similar bid nearly two years ago against an earlier version of the same bill, and the latest move follows Reuters reporting last week that it was also seeking federal immunity from child-harm claims.
The lobbying comes as California weighs stricter guardrails for kids online, while industry groups including TechNet and CCIA argue the bill would violate platforms’ First Amendment rights.
As Europe punishes addictive design, why would California offer social media companies a legal 'safe harbor'?
Can safety features fix a business model designed for addiction, or is this just a legal shield for Meta?
$375 Million in Fines and California’s AB 2: How Landmark Lawsuits and Legislation Are Forcing Social Media Reform
Overview
In March 2026, a court found that Meta and Google failed to address harmful platform design features affecting minors’ mental health, leading to major legal liabilities for social media companies. This ruling, along with a $375 million penalty against Meta for deceptive advertising about child safety, has intensified Meta’s legal challenges. In response, Meta is now actively lobbying to amend California’s Assembly Bill 2 (AB 2), seeking protections from future claims. These events highlight how recent court decisions are driving Meta to influence legislation in order to limit its exposure to further legal risks related to child safety on its platforms.