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Judge says Georgia's age verification law curbs free speech
The Center Square ^ | 6/26/26 | Kim Jarrett

Posted on 06/26/2025 3:42:12 PM PDT by CFW

A U.S. District Court judge granted a preliminary injunction Thursday that halts the Protecting Georgia’s Children on Social Media Act of 2024.

NetChoice, a trade organization representing apps like Facebook and Instagram, is challenging the law in a case in the U.S. Northern District of Georgia. It would have required submitting proof of age before accessing social media sites.

Judge Amy Totenberg said in the 50-page ruling that the law is constitutionally infirm.

"The State seeks to erect barriers to speech that cannot withstand the rigorous scrutiny that the Constitution requires, and the inapt tailoring of the law – which is rife with exemptions that undermine its purpose – dooms its constitutionality and calls into question its efficacy," Totenberg said in her decision. "The Act curbs the speech rights of Georgia’s youth while imposing an immense, potentially intrusive burden on all Georgians who wish to engage in the most central computerized public fora of the twenty-first century."

Chris Marchese, NetChoice director of litigation, called the decision "a victory for free speech."

(Excerpt) Read more at thecentersquare.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Georgia
KEYWORDS: age; amytotenberg; childabuse; childrights; demagogicparty; democratjudge; dramacratjudge; enemieslist; enemyjudge; federaljudge; georgia; groomerjudge; inlocoparentis; internet; judgewatch; kimjarrett; lawfare; maga; ndgeorgia; ninatotenberg; obamajudge; parentalrights; removeamytotenberg; scotus; seniormomentjudge; socialmedia; voicevote
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I'm mixed on this issue but generally think that allowing government to decide who can access social media based upon age would lead to additional social media restrictions by government agencies. Parents should monitor their children's social media access.
1 posted on 06/26/2025 3:42:12 PM PDT by CFW
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To: CFW

Let parents be parents and decide what websites kids go on. So sick of government trying to raise our kids.


2 posted on 06/26/2025 3:43:49 PM PDT by napscoordinator (DeSantis is a beast! Florida is the freest state in the country! )
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To: napscoordinator

Parents are not being parents. This may not be the right solution...if there is a solution...but the reality is that parents are not being parents. And this is corrupting our children and youth, which then creates corrupted adults. And that does indeed affect all of us.


3 posted on 06/26/2025 3:46:41 PM PDT by Republican Wildcat
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To: CFW

She’s an Obama Judge. Her eldest sister is the crackpot NPR correspondent Nina Totenberg.


4 posted on 06/26/2025 3:47:55 PM PDT by LuxAerterna
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To: CFW
Way back in Georgia, I was 20 and she was 16. There was no "social media" at that time.

Challenger just blew up that morning, to give y'all a time frame.

5 posted on 06/26/2025 3:49:41 PM PDT by real saxophonist (Michael Bennet claps on 1 and 3.)
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To: CFW
the rigorous scrutiny that the Constitution requires

Okay. Fine. The First Amendment thanks you.

Now do gun control. Do the Second Amendment.

6 posted on 06/26/2025 3:49:53 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy
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To: CFW

“Judge Amy Totenberg”

_______________

Paid off.


7 posted on 06/26/2025 3:52:09 PM PDT by jacknhoo (Luke 12:51; Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.)
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To: Republican Wildcat

“This may not be the right solution...if there is a solution...but the reality is that parents are not being parents.”

I’m with you - ALL OF US suffer the results of bad parenting and if the parents won’t take the BASIC STEPS to protect their kids (such as also keeping away the trans-butchers), then the state is right to step-in.


8 posted on 06/26/2025 3:53:08 PM PDT by BobL
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To: CFW

With the content and social engineering going on by AI and Leftist amoral social media sites, age verification for these powerful platforms is as appropriate as verifying their age for school.


9 posted on 06/26/2025 3:55:44 PM PDT by jacknhoo (Luke 12:51; Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.)
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To: BobL

Nope. No taking away the fundamental right of free speech because of bad parents.


10 posted on 06/26/2025 3:59:59 PM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: CFW
Amy Totenberg. Figures.

11 posted on 06/26/2025 4:12:14 PM PDT by Governor Dinwiddie ( O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is gracious, and His mercy endures forever. — Psalm 106)
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To: CFW

Every device made has had built in default parental controls for almost 15 years. There would not be any problem at all if the parents just used them... Fine the parents, not the net industry.


12 posted on 06/26/2025 4:27:55 PM PDT by Openurmind (AI - An Illusion for Aptitude Intrusion to Alter Intellect. )
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To: CFW

Just another leftist DEMOCRAT Jewess Judge RUINING our coubtry!!!!


13 posted on 06/26/2025 4:28:58 PM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion.....the HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: CFW
Judge Amy Totenberg said in the 50-page ruling that [the law is constitutionally infirm] any laws protecting children from adult sexual predators are unfair to her friends and supporters. . .

What Leftist judges refuse to accept is that, except under extraordinary and scrupulously documented circumstances, children are automatically the legally recognized wards of their parents. Hence, the State has no direct right to f*ck with them--much to the disappointment of, say, homosexual sodomites who are favored by those who labor in the anonymous anthill of the State.

Some of these judges should be investigated for conflict of interest, as in, "Show us your cell-phone log, so we can see if Congressmen, bureaucrats, and lobbyists have you on speed-dial--and when they called you."

14 posted on 06/26/2025 4:32:31 PM PDT by SamuraiScot
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To: Republican Wildcat
Parents are not being parents. This may not be the right solution...if there is a solution...but the reality is that parents are not being parents. And this is corrupting our children and youth, which then creates corrupted adults. And that does indeed affect all of us.

Agreed. I think that parents in general don't realize what is available on the "mainstream" social media sites.

15 posted on 06/26/2025 4:48:04 PM PDT by FateAmenableToChange
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To: CFW

Social media is all about making money, therefore it affects interstate commerce.

SCOTUS has said that anything that affects interstate commerce can be regulated. Indeed, they have upheld laws banning tobacco companies from advertising.

Therefore I posit that social media can be regulated according to SCOTUS precedent.

Don’t argue with me...argue with SCOTUS, as they opened this Pandora’s box. I’m just pointing out that logically, you can’t have it both ways.


16 posted on 06/26/2025 4:48:12 PM PDT by rottndog (What comes after America?)
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To: CFW

The bill says that if a child cannot prove they are older than 15, they need their parent’s permission to create a social media account. I see no harm in that.


17 posted on 06/26/2025 4:50:46 PM PDT by ScottHammett
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To: CFW

“People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for freedom of thought, which they seldom use.”

Søren Kierkegaard


18 posted on 06/26/2025 4:53:46 PM PDT by heterosupremacist (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God. Thomas Jefferson)
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To: CFW

The judge says. Who cares?


19 posted on 06/26/2025 5:00:23 PM PDT by Signalman (When your enemy is digging himself a hole, don't take away his shovel.)
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To: Republican Wildcat

I’m sure that’s true. But it’s still too much government intervention which is awful.


20 posted on 06/26/2025 5:12:11 PM PDT by napscoordinator (DeSantis is a beast! Florida is the freest state in the country! )
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