Technology1 min read

New York sued over law requiring social media 'warning label'

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

NetChoice, representing major online firms such as Meta, Google, Snap, and TikTok, filed the federal lawsuit to halt the impending state mandate signed by Governor Kathy Hochul. The legislation requires platforms utilizing engagement mechanics like auto-play and algorithmic feeds to display unskippable warnings referencing U.S. Surgeon General youth mental health findings. NetChoice argues the alerts intrusively disrupt users during initial sign-on and after extended browsing sessions, improperly forcing companies to adopt government-dictated speech.

Key points

  • The lawsuit asserts that compelled government warning labels violate the constitutional f…: The lawsuit asserts that compelled government warning labels violate the constitutional free speech rights of online platforms.
  • State efforts to legally constrain dynamic feed mechanics and algorithmic features face s…: State efforts to legally constrain dynamic feed mechanics and algorithmic features face severe legal hurdles from major internet coalitions.
  • The litigation mirrors NetChoice actions in California and follows a Colorado statute bei…: The litigation mirrors NetChoice actions in California and follows a Colorado statute being blocked on First Amendment grounds.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

NEW YORK, Nov 13 : An internet trade group sued New York on Friday, seeking to block a state law requiring social media platforms that contain potentially addictive features to provide state-approved warning labels for users.

In a complaint filed in federal court, NetChoice said the law violates the free speech protections of the US Constitution's First Amendment by compelling its members to convey the state's "preferred message" about online safety.

The office of New York Attorney General Letitia James, who enforces the state's laws, declined immediate comment.

NetChoice has more than 30 members including Alphabet's Google and YouTube, Facebook and Instagram parent Meta Platforms, Snapchat parent Snap and ByteDance's TikTok. It has filed many lawsuits challenging regulation of social media businesses.

Signed by Governor Kathy Hochul last December, the New York law requires social media platforms with infinite scrolling, auto-play and algorithmic feeds to warn about potential harm to younger users.

It requires the display of a "warning" from the US Surgeon General that while social media may benefit some young users, "excessive use may be associated with significant…

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