"Louisiana's Secure Online Child Interaction and Age Limitation act, a social media law that requires social platforms to verify user ages and implement parental controls, has been struck down. The before the buzzer decision was issued on Dec. 15, made just ahead of the act's enforcement period by Louisiana regulators. The federal judge ruled in favor of tech trade lobbying group NetChoice, which has been constitutionally challenging age verification laws across the country. In April, NetChoice successfully blocked Arkansas' Social Media Safety Act."
""The Act is at once under-inclusive and over-inclusive," wrote judge John W. deGravelles in the Louisiana decision. NetChoice joins other free speech advocates who argue sweeping age verification laws may pose large scale privacy risks, restrict access to protected speech, and chill open expression online. Online safety advocates, meanwhile, have pushed for social media regulation in the wake of widespread child exploitation and mental health concerns. Louisiana was the first to enact such a law in 2023, and other states quickly followed suit."
A federal judge issued a decision blocking Louisiana's Secure Online Child Interaction and Age Limitation act just before its enforcement date. The ruling favored tech trade group NetChoice, which has challenged similar laws nationwide and previously blocked Arkansas' Social Media Safety Act. The judge characterized the law as both under-inclusive and over-inclusive. Free speech advocates warn that broad age-verification mandates could create privacy risks, restrict protected speech, and chill online expression. Online safety advocates emphasize concerns about child exploitation and mental health. Louisiana's attorney general has indicated plans to appeal the ruling.
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