A federal judge has issued a temporary injunction against various provisions of Texas's House Bill 18, which aimed to regulate minors' social media use. This marks the second legal challenge against the law, seen as a victory for free expression. The judge found provisions regarding targeted advertising and content monitoring likely unconstitutional. Although the decision gives relief to plaintiffs, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has appealed the ruling. The law, designed to enhance parental control and protect children’s privacy online, faced criticism for potential First Amendment violations.
"The Court enjoined every substantive provision of the SCOPE Act we challenged, granting even broader relief than its first preliminary injunction," Sieff said. "We hope this decision will give other states pause before broadly restricting free expression online."
Judge Robert Pitman stated the provisions for monitoring and filtering content were vague and overbroad, thus blocking them from enforcement.
Rep. Shelby Slawson, the bill's author, emphasized that the legislation aims to empower parents in controlling how their children's private information is handled online.
Attorney General Ken Paxton appealed the temporary injunction, indicating ongoing legal battles regarding the enforcement of Texas HB 18.
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