Federal Judge Declares Arkansas Social Media Safety Act Unconstitutional

Dame Rachel de Souza, the children's commissioner for England, has called for the removal of children from social media if the Online Safety Act is weakened during US trade negotiations. She emphasized the need for strict regulations to protect children from harmful online content, citing alarming cases of young kids encountering pornography. Meanwhile, in the U.S., a California law aimed at preventing social media addiction among minors faces legal challenges, with a tech lobbying group arguing that it violates free speech. Additionally, a federal judge recently struck down Arkansas's Social Media Safety Act, which required age verification for minors, citing it as unconstitutionally burdensome. The judge noted that such regulations must be narrowly tailored to achieve compelling state interests without overly restricting access to online platforms. These developments highlight the ongoing debate over how to balance online safety for minors with free speech rights.