United States of America: Announced lawsuit challenging constitutionality of Florida's Online Protections for Minors Bill (HB 3) (CCIA & NetChoice v Moody)

On 28 October 2024, NetChoice and the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA) filed a public lawsuit in the District Court in Tallahassee, challenging Florida's Online Protections for Minors Bill (HB 3). The Bill mandates age verification for social media platforms, prohibiting account creation or maintenance by individuals under 14 without parental consent. The plaintiffs argue that the law infringes on First Amendment rights by restricting access to lawful speech and by necessitating that adults and minors provide proof of age, thereby limiting their ability to access information online. The complaint also argues that the law could compromise Floridian's cybersecurity by requiring the collection of sensitive personal data, which could become a target for cybercriminals. The lawsuit seeks to block the law's implementation.