Utah's Social Media Regulation Act Faces Legal Challenges

The law, set to take effect on March 1, is under scrutiny for its potential infringement on First Amendment rights and its impact on minors' access to online resources.

• Utah's Social Media Regulation Act, set to take effect on March 1, is facing two federal lawsuits challenging its constitutionality. The law requires social media platforms to verify user ages and obtain parental consent for minors under 18 to maintain accounts, imposes a curfew blocking minors from accessing platforms between 10:30 pm and 6:30 am, and holds platforms liable for designing any features considered addicting or harmful to minors.
• The law has been criticized for its vagueness, particularly in defining what constitutes 'physical, mental, emotional, developmental, or material harms.' Critics argue that this could lead to platforms restricting minor access entirely to avoid potential penalties, including a fine of $250,000 for each feature found to cause addiction and up to $2,500 per minor found to be harmed.
• One of the lawsuits has been filed by Hannah Zoulek, a high school student who uses social media to communicate with her school's robotics club, friends, and other communities. Zoulek argues that the law infringes on teens' speech and ability to discuss important issues such as mental health, and could make it more difficult for teens to access beneficial resources online.
• The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), a First Amendment nonprofit, has also launched a lawsuit against the state of Utah, arguing that the law violates the First Amendment by forcing social media companies to restrict users' access to protected expression. The complaint claims that the law's age verification requirements amount to a prior restraint on expression that limits all Utahns' ability to access important sources of information and social interaction.
• Utah lawmakers are considering pushing back the law's effective date to October 1 in response to the lawsuits. Senate Assistant Majority Whip Kirk Cullimore, who is sponsoring a bill to delay the law's implementation, said the social media regulations are headed for a complete overhaul in an effort to address many of the concerns detailed in the lawsuits.

3 Articles

Ars Technica Reason.com The Salt Lake Tribune