A judge has blocked a Louisiana law that would have required social media platforms to verify the ages of their users. The Secure Online Child Interaction and Age Limitation law, passed in 2023, aimed to compel companies, including Meta, Reddit, Snap, YouTube, and Discord, to implement age verification systems and parental control features.
The ruling came just days before the law, which technically took effect over the summer, was set to be enforced. Judge John W. deGravelles wrote that the law’s requirements for age verification and parental consent were “both over- and under-inclusive,” and described its definition of “social media platform” as “nebulous.” The decision marked a victory for NetChoice, a tech industry lobbying group that has challenged age verification laws globally, arguing that such measures are unconstitutional and create safety and security risks. Paul Taske, co-director of NetChoice’s Litigation Center, said the law would have posed a “massive privacy risk” for Louisiana residents, while also chilling free speech. The state Attorney General’s office did not immediately comment.