NetChoice Argues Law Violates First Amendment and Creates Unnecessary Burdens
Jackson, MS – A new Mississippi law requiring users to verify their age before accessing certain websites and digital services is facing legal challenges. NetChoice, a tech industry group representing companies like Google (owner of YouTube), Snap Inc. (owner of Snapchat), and Meta (owner of Facebook and Instagram), filed a lawsuit against the law in a federal court located in Jackson on Friday.
Lawmakers’ Intent and Implementation Date
Mississippi legislators enacted the law with the stated goal of protecting children from exposure to sexually explicit material online. The measure passed both the state House and Senate unanimously and was signed by Republican Governor Tate Reeves on April 30th. The law is scheduled to take effect on July 1st.
NetChoice’s Track Record of Blocking Similar Laws
NetChoice has a history of successfully challenging similar age verification laws in other states. They have previously persuaded judges to block such laws in Arkansas, California, and Ohio.
Lawsuit Claims First Amendment Violation and Censorship Concerns
The lawsuit argues that the Mississippi law violates the First Amendment by mandating age verification for both minors and adults. NetChoice contends this requirement forces users to potentially disclose personal information or identification they may be unwilling or unable to provide, thereby creating an undue burden on accessing protected online speech.
The lawsuit further expresses concern that the law would essentially replace existing voluntary content moderation efforts by websites with a system of state-mandated censorship.
Utah Law Revisions After NetChoice Lawsuit
Utah is another state where NetChoice challenged a law imposing strict limitations on children’s access to social media. In March of this year, Republican Governor Spencer Cox signed revised versions of the Utah laws. These revisions require social media companies to verify user ages and restrict certain features on accounts belonging to Utah minors. However, a key change involved removing the requirement for parental consent before a child could open an account. This change addressed concerns about parents potentially needing to share sensitive information that could compromise their online security.
