SAN FRANCISCO—Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a ruling in NetChoice v. Bonta over California’s SB 976, the state’s latest attempt to impose censorship and surveillance requirements on the internet.
“NetChoice is largely disappointed in the Ninth Circuit’s ruling, and we will consider all available avenues to defend the First Amendment,” said Paul Taske, Co-Director of the NetChoice Litigation Center. “California’s law usurps the role of parents and gives the government more power over how legal speech is shared online. By mandating mass collection of sensitive data from adults and minors, it will undermine the security and privacy of families putting them at risk of cybercrime such as identity theft.”
Core Problems with SB 976:
- Tramples Over Free Speech: SB 976 conditions Californians’ right to access protected speech on providing sensitive, personal data.
- Mandates Surveillance: The law forces online services to verify identities, track minors, and report to the government annually.
- Jeopardizes Safety and Security: By compelling companies to collect and store sensitive data, SB 976 creates a honeypot for cybercriminals and predators.
- Usurps Parental Authority: SB 976 hands decisions about online access to the state instead of families.
Read the opinion here. Learn more about NetChoice v. Bonta here.
Please contact press@netchoice.org with inquiries