SAN FRANCISCO—Last night, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit denied NetChoice’s request for a rehearing in front of the full court on our request to halt a California law imposing a censorship and surveillance regime on its citizens online, SB 976. This law creates dangerous data risks and fails to help a single Californian, especially children, be safer online.
“NetChoice is disappointed in the Court’s decision not to rehear our case, and we will explore all available options to protect free speech and privacy online,” said Paul Taske, Co-Director of the NetChoice Litigation Center.
Read the opinion here. Learn more about NetChoice v. Bonta (California SB 976) here.
Please contact press@netchoice.org with inquiries.
Key Takeaways of NetChoice v. Bonta (California 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.