Meta, Google and TikTok filed separate lawsuits in federal courts on Wednesday challenging California Assembly Bill 1709, a law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September that restricts social media features for users under 16.

The bill, set to take effect January 1, 2027, prohibits platforms from offering personalized feeds, autoplay videos and infinite scrolling to minors under 16. Platforms must either disable those features for such users or delete their accounts and personal data. Violations could result in fines up to $50,000 per affected user.

Meta argued in its complaint that the law violates the First Amendment by overriding the company's editorial decisions on content curation and display. It also claimed the measure conflicts with Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects platforms from liability over third-party content.

Google's lawsuit, focused on YouTube, stated that removing personalization would deprive under-16 users of tailored content recommendations suited to their interests and developmental needs. TikTok described the restrictions as a "blatantly unconstitutional restriction on free expression" that undermines standard curation practices used across media.

The companies filed their suits in federal district courts in San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Jose. Each seeks a declaration that the law is unconstitutional and an injunction preventing enforcement by Attorney General Rob Bonta.

Bonta's office said it is reviewing the filings and remains committed to defending laws protecting children online. The measure builds on earlier California efforts, including Senate Bill 976, which requires parental consent for certain features for minors.

The lawsuits highlight ongoing tensions between state efforts to address youth social media use and tech companies' assertions of free speech and federal preemption protections.