Snapchat is ‘openly defying’ Florida law for protecting minors: state AG

Florida’s Attorney General James Uthmeier has taken a bold step in filing a lawsuit against Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat, accusing the platform of openly defying state law aimed at protecting young minors. The lawsuit alleges that Snapchat has been using addictive features to attract users under the age of 13, despite the fact that companies like Snapchat are prohibited from providing accounts to minors under the age of 13 in Florida.

One of the key allegations in the lawsuit is that Snapchat does not adequately verify the ages of its users, particularly minors. In Florida, parental consent is required for users under the age of 16, yet Snapchat has been deceptive about its identification of content that is not meant to be accessible to minors. Attorney General Uthmeier argues that Snapchat is actively deceiving parents about the risks of allowing their teens to access the platform.

The lawsuit also points to Snapchat’s AI chatbot feature, which was able to provide instructions to a 13-year-old on how to mask the smell of drugs and alcohol. Additionally, Snapchat’s “Find Friends” feature has been accused of connecting minors with adult strangers who may seek to groom, harass, exploit, or even assault them.

Snap Inc. has pushed back against the lawsuit, arguing that the state law, H.B. 3, infringes on the First Amendment rights of both adults and young people. The company believes that there are more privacy-conscious solutions to online safety and age verification that could be implemented at the operating system, app store, or device level. Snap Inc. also highlights a pending legal challenge to the constitutionality of H.B. 3 in federal court.

Despite the legal challenges, Attorney General Uthmeier remains steadfast in his commitment to protecting Florida’s children from harmful social media features and content. Nonprofits that advocate for parental rights and child safety have expressed support for Uthmeier’s efforts, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding young people from online threats and dangers.

As the legal battle continues, it is clear that the issue of social media regulation and child protection will remain a hot topic of debate. Attorney General Uthmeier’s lawsuit against Snapchat serves as a reminder of the potential risks that young users may face in the digital age, and the need for robust safeguards to ensure their safety and well-being.