Amending AB 1709 Doesn’t Fix It: California’s Social Media Ban Still Threatens Free Speech and Privacy

California lawmakers have amended AB 1709, a proposed ban on social media for youth under sixteen, but the Electronic Frontier Foundation says the fundamental problems persist. The bill prohibits what it calls addictive features—including recommendation algorithms and auto-play—effectively blocking minors from major platforms. The EFF also warns that enforcement will push platforms toward the strictest age verification methods: demanding government IDs and biometric scanning, creating massive databases of sensitive personal data. The foundation urges senators to reject the bill, arguing that amendments don't salvage flawed policy.

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