Tech industry group NetChoice has initiated legal proceedings against a new Mississippi law mandating age verification for users of websites and digital services, arguing the legislation unconstitutionally restricts online speech. This suit, filed on Friday, posits that the law infringes on the First Amendment rights of both minors and adults.
The legislation, which recently passed without opposition in Mississippi’s Legislature, imposes stringent safety precautions aimed at protecting minors on social media platforms. These provisions, set to take effect on July 1, include requirements for parental consent for minors creating social media accounts, prohibitions against sharing minors’ locations, and bans on inappropriate advertisements and the sale of minors’ personal information.
NetChoice, whose members include major tech companies such as Google (owner of YouTube), Snap Inc. (parent company of Snapchat), and Meta (parent company of Facebook and Instagram), filed the lawsuit in federal court in Jackson, Mississippi. The group has previously successfully blocked similar legislation in states such as Arkansas, California, and Ohio.
According to NetChoice, the Mississippi law demands that users validate their ages by providing personal information, which many may be unwilling or unable to do. They argue this process could restrict access to a broad range of protected speech, encompassing content from classic literature to modern music, thereby raising First Amendment concerns. Additionally, the lawsuit contends that the law misplaces the duty of parental oversight onto the government, thereby stripping parents of their decision-making authority regarding their children’s online activities.
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch’s office will be in charge of defending the law. As of this writing, responses from Mississippi officials remain pending.