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4mo ago

Florida Sues Snap Inc. Over Alleged Violations of Child-Protection Law

The state accuses Snapchat of enabling underage accounts, lacking parental consent, and using addictive features that harm minors.

FILE – The Snapchat app on a mobile device is seen in New York. Snap Inc., Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017. The owner of Snapchat will pay $15 million to settle a lawsuit brought by California’s civil rights agency that claimed the company discriminated against female employees, failed to prevent workplace sexual harassment and retaliated against women who complained. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
Children playground miniatures are seen in front of displayed Snapchat logo in this illustration taken April 4, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
Stock image: A photo taken on November 27, 2024 shows the logo of US online messenger Snapchat on a smartphone screen in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany.
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Overview

  • Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a lawsuit against Snap Inc., marking the first enforcement action under the state's 2024 child-protection law (HB 3).
  • The lawsuit alleges Snapchat knowingly allows accounts for children under 14 and fails to obtain parental consent for users aged 14 and 15, violating state law.
  • Snapchat’s design features, including infinite scrolling, push notifications, and disappearing messages, are cited as addictive and harmful to youth mental health.
  • Florida seeks an injunction to stop the alleged violations and penalties of up to $50,000 per infraction under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.
  • Snap Inc. argues the law infringes on First Amendment rights and advocates for alternative, privacy-conscious online safety measures.