A federal judge has blocked Utah’s controversial “Minor Protection in Social Media Act” just days before it was set to take effect. The law, scheduled for implementation on October 1, aimed to require social media companies to verify the ages of users, restrict the visibility of minors’ accounts and set maximum default privacy settings for users under 18.

Chief Judge Robert J. Shelby of the U.S. District Court issued the injunction following a request from NetChoice, a tech industry group. The group argued that the law infringed on the First Amendment rights of social media platforms and their users.

The law is part of a broader push by Utah lawmakers to increase online protections for minors. Under the proposed regulations, social media companies would have been required to implement measures such as disabling search engine indexing for Utah children’s accounts and verifying the age of every user. These measures, according to the law’s proponents, were designed to shield minors from potentially harmful content online.

However, the law faced immediate legal challenges. Critics, including tech companies and privacy advocates, argued that the law would have a chilling effect on free speech and could lead to over-moderation of content on social media platforms.

In his written order, Judge Shelby sided with NetChoice, granting a preliminary injunction that prevents the state from enforcing the law while the case moves forward. Shelby expressed concerns about the law’s implications for free speech, noting that the regulation of how social media platforms construct and operate their services is a form of protected speech under the First Amendment.

“The speech at issue in this case — the speech social media companies engage in when they make decisions about how to construct and operate their platforms — is protected speech,” Shelby wrote.

The judge also noted that the state of Utah had failed to demonstrate a compelling state interest that would justify the restrictions imposed by the law. Utah’s argument that the law was needed to help parents protect their children from social media’s harmful effects, Shelby concluded, did not outweigh the potential violation of constitutional rights.

Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes expressed disappointment in the ruling, stating, “We’re disappointed in the district court’s decision preliminarily enjoining Utah’s Minor Protection in Social Media Act. The AG’s office is analyzing the ruling to determine the next steps. We remain committed to protecting Utah’s youth from social media’s harmful effects.”

On the other side, NetChoice praised the court’s decision. Chris Marchese, director of the NetChoice Litigation Center, emphasized the importance of protecting online speech. “Utah’s law not only violates the First Amendment but if enforced, would backfire and endanger the very people it’s meant to help. We look forward to seeing this law, and others like it, permanently struck down,” Marchese said.

This is the sixth injunction against similar social media regulations across the country. As states continue to explore ways to regulate online content, the ruling may have broader implications for other states considering similar legislation.

The case is far from over, as Utah may appeal the decision or pursue amendments to the law. This legal battle highlights the ongoing debate over how to balance the protection of minors with the preservation of free speech rights online.