EPIC Leads Group of Law & Technology Scholars in Rebutting Social Media Companies’ Arguments that Surveillance-Based Feeds Are Constitutionally-Protected Speech
Summary
EPIC and legal scholars have filed an amicus brief supporting California's regulation of social media addiction by challenging Big Tech's claims that surveillance-based feeds are constitutionally protected speech. The brief counters lawsuits filed by TikTok, Meta, and Google against the state's "Protecting Our Kids from Social Media Addiction Act" (SB 976).
IFF Assessment
This is bad news for defenders as it suggests continued legal battles over data privacy and algorithmic manipulation in social media, which can have downstream security implications.
Defender Context
Defenders should monitor how these legal challenges impact data handling practices by social media companies, as a loss for regulation could lead to more pervasive data collection. This also highlights the ongoing tension between user privacy, corporate speech rights, and the potential for exploitation of user data by various actors.