AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - An online content trade group has gone to Texas federal court to challenge a law that would require its members to block certain things from minors' accounts.
The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) and NetChoice, LLC have filed a lawsuit against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, challenging the constitutionality of Texas House Bill 18 (HB18).
The plaintiffs argue that HB18 imposes unconstitutional restrictions on online speech by requiring social media websites to monitor and censor content for minors.
They claim that the law violates the First Amendment by imposing content-based and speaker-based regulations, which fail strict scrutiny. The lawsuit seeks declaratory and injunctive relief to prevent the enforcement of HB18, asserting that it will chill protected speech and impose burdensome compliance requirements on social media platforms.
Scott Keller and others at Lehotsky Keller Cohn represent the plaintiffs.