Miss. Will Appeal Injunction of Kids' Social Media Law

Mississippi will appeal a preliminary injunction of an age-verification law to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, state Attorney General Lynn Fitch (R) said in a Wednesday notice at the U.S. District Court for Southern Mississippi. In addition, the state sought a stay pending appeal. The court put enforcement of the law on hold Monday (see 2407010062). Under the law, parental consent is needed for minors younger than 18 who access social media. The court said NetChoice showed a high likelihood of success in its complaint that raised constitutional concerns with the law. "On appeal, the Attorney General will show that this Court’s injunction cannot be squared with the Act’s targeted scope, with its focus on (and regulation of) non-expressive conduct of covered online platforms, or with precedent on facial challenges," the state said in an accompanying memo. "The Attorney General will also show that the harm to the State from enjoining the Act’s enforcement substantially outweighs any harm to NetChoice and its members from complying with the Act."