The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has issued a broad injunction against California’s social media age verification law, Senate Bill 976 (SB 976), effectively blocking its enforcement until a full trial can be held in April. The decision, handed down Wednesday, follows concerns raised by free speech advocates and technology trade groups who argue the law violates First Amendment protections and threatens digital privacy.

The ruling expands on an earlier preliminary injunction that had temporarily halted certain provisions of the law. With this latest decision, the entire law is now on hold.

SB 976 was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2023 and went into effect on January 1, 2025. The legislation aims to protect minors online by imposing new restrictions on social media platforms. Among its key provisions:

• Banning notifications for minors on social media apps during specific hours.
• Mandating age verification for all users to confirm they are not children, beginning in 2027.

The law’s supporters, including California Attorney General Rob Bonta, argue that these measures are intended to protect children rather than infringe on free speech.

Critics, led by NetChoice, a technology industry trade group, say the law threatens online anonymity and could chill free speech by forcing users to provide identification before accessing social media platforms.

“We are grateful that the 9th Circuit agreed to halt SB 976 in its entirety while our case proceeds. This law has serious implications for Californians’ First Amendment and digital privacy rights,” said Paul Taske, Associate Director of Litigation for NetChoice.

Opponents argue that forcing users to verify their ages would eliminate the ability to engage in anonymous speech, a right that courts have historically upheld as a fundamental part of free expression online.

While the California Department of Justice has not yet responded to the broader injunction, Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office previously defended the law, stating:

“No part of SB 976 regulates speech.”

“The California Department of Justice will continue to vigorously defend this law in court and remains confident in the commonsense statute enacted by both Democrats and Republicans, and supported by teachers, public health professionals, and parents in California.”

With the lawfully blocked until trial, attention now shifts to April 2025, when the court will hear arguments on the constitutionality of SB 976.