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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Social media giants ask judge to block Georgia age verification law
Social media companies have filed a federal lawsuit challenging a new Georgia law that would create new online age restrictions for minors. A June 3 hearing was held in the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Georgia in downtown Atlanta. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder A federal judge heard arguments this week on a Georgia law aimed at restricting social media use for minors and requiring Georgians to confirm their age before viewing adult websites. Judge Amy Totenberg of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia announced at the Tuesday hearing that she will determine soon whether to hear more evidence regarding a lawsuit by a group called NetChoice to stop the law. NetChoice represents various internet-based services, including powerful businesses like Google and Meta, as well as smaller companies like online journal site Dreamwidth Studios. On the same day, a Florida judge blocked sections of a similar Florida law. Children under the age of 16 would need parental consent to open social media accounts under the new Georgia law, which is set to go into effect July 1. NetChoice filed a lawsuit in May seeking to prevent that from happening. The companies claim the rules violate young people's First Amendment rights, as well as place unnecessary burdens on social media companies. Attorneys also argued the revised rules strip away some of the flexibility of parents monitoring what online sites their children are accessing. Jeremy Maltz, an attorney representing NetChoice in the lawsuit, argued at Tuesday's court hearing that many people using online websites affected by the Georgia law would consider it an invasion of privacy if they had to use sensitive information to create an account. The plaintiffs argue that adults could face a burden if companies require them to potentially give companies driver licenses, banking or credit card information or use facial recognition software in order to access user-generated online sites. Data breaches and other cyber security threats could be increased by the new age guidelines, Maltz said. 'We know people are going to have to provide some sort of information to access protected speech,' he said. And despite the law exempting educational, public safety, and professional networking platforms, Martz said it would also create new verification hurdles even for innocuous sites such as college football and recipe message boards. 'This bill targets minors at the places where minors go to engage in free speech,' Maltz said. Republican state lawmakers push for Georgia law to require proof of adulthood to view adult websites Georgia lawmakers passed SB 351 in 2024 with bipartisan support. Logan Winkles, a state deputy attorney general, said that social media is designed to drive engagement and promote addiction, and the intent of legislators in passing the law was to protect children from adult bad actors online. 'Everyone agrees that social media poses some risk to children,' Winkles said. NetChoice successfully overturned similar laws in Arkansas and Ohio after arguing they unfairly censored free speech on online platforms. The bill requires social media companies to make commercially reasonable efforts to verify the age of their users, which can be done through methods including banking and credit card accounts, facial and fingerprint recognition software scanning. The Age Verification Providers Association, which supports third-party age verification businesses, reports that about a dozen states have passed laws restricting or requiring parents to consent to minors accessing social media. In several states, including Arkansas, California and Ohio, court orders have been issued to block the provisions of the law. As of May, the age verification group listed Georgia among the 24 states that have passed laws requiring age verification to access online pornography. Opponents say such laws could create privacy concerns and prevent people from accessing constitutionally protected speech. Winkles said at Tuesday's hearing that legislators and Gov. Brian Kemp backed the law to protect more kids and teens from social media sites that lead to higher rates of bullying and mental health problems such as depression and that technology can estimate a person's age without revealing their identity. 'What we know is there are many other ways to verify ID other than showing government ID,' Winkles said. But Totenberg questioned the verification processes. 'It doesn't seem very precise,' Totenberg said. 'It's a highly subjective standard and I'm not sure what it ultimately means.' The law allows parents and guardians to file complaints with the attorney general office if they believe a company isn't complying with age verification. Violations of the law may result in a fine of up to $2,500 per violation. On Tuesday, federal Judge Mark Walker of the northern district of Florida blocked sections of Florida's law banning children under 14 from having social media accounts and requiring parents' approval for teens as old as 16 while expressing concerns about social media's adverse effects on children. Georgia attorneys contend that the state's new social media rules stand up to legal scrutiny and differ from states like Florida, which limited companies' ability to control user-posted content. Right wing officials from several states have expressed concerns about social media companies blocking conservative viewpoints. John Acevedo, an Emory University constitutional law professor, pointed out that when it's pornography, there has been a legal history showing a legitimate interest in protecting children. 'Really, it's not controversial to put an age requirement in, but the controversy is the manner in which the age requirement is implemented,' he said Wednesday. 'Conversely, in social media there's a controversy over whether we should even limit social media at all to any age group.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Introducing the next generation of the Georgia Recorder
Today, the Georgia Recorder is moving into a new chapter, and as the Recorder's new editor, I wanted to take a moment to reintroduce us. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder For nearly six years, we've covered high-stakes elections. We've been your eyes and ears at the state Capitol. And we've explained what policy decisions made in Atlanta mean for communities across Georgia. Administrations, politicians and agency heads have come and gone during that time, but our mission has stayed the same: To provide meaningful coverage of state policy and politics – without a paywall – to readers living below the gnat line, in the mountains of north Georgia and anywhere in between. As a nonprofit news outlet, our stories and photos are also available for local newsrooms to complement the vital work they are doing – and available to republish for free. The generous support of our readers and donors to our parent organization, States Newsroom, makes all this possible. That's especially true during these uncertain economic times when many Georgians are having to make hard choices to get by. And today, the Georgia Recorder is moving into a new chapter. Our founding editor John McCosh is retiring and handing the reins over to me, and as the Recorder's new editor, I wanted to take a moment to reintroduce us. I've been with the Recorder since we launched in 2019, serving you as the deputy editor. And before that, I covered state politics and policy for a chain of newspapers around the state (shoutout to CNHI). All told, I have been covering the state Capitol here for a decade now, doing my part to help tell the story of Georgia's evolution into the swingy, purpley state it has become and all that comes with it – and what that means for you. The Recorder staff includes veterans, like our new deputy editor, Ross Williams, who focuses on education and economic inequality. Senior reporter Stanley Dunlap covers energy and environmental issues, including what the Trump administration's policies mean for Georgians and the resources they rely on. And reporter Maya Homan has joined us to cover state politics with an emphasis on voting rights and immigration. And I'm still chasing down stories about health care and the state's safety net systems. We'll all pitch in on the campaign trail. Two Public Service Commission seats are on the ballot this year, and the 2026 midterms are already ramping up, as Georgians prepare to pick a new governor and as U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff works to defend his seat in a state President Donald Trump won last year. You can read more about us, our beats and how to submit story tips, questions or feedback here. Feel free to shoot us a note at info@ too. And you can also have our work sent directly to you every morning by signing up for our daily newsletter. We're also on Facebook, Bluesky and Instagram. We may be undergoing some changes, but our commitment to you is the same: To deliver the same scrappy, independent reporting and analysis of the day's news that you've come to appreciate. That kind of unflinching coverage of our state Capitol is more crucial today than it's ever been, and we are renewing our pledge to be a resource amid the chaos for all Georgians, regardless of where they live or their ability to pay. We promise to always do our best to get the facts right, to be fair in our reporting and to be transparent. Because we recognize that your trust in the media's credibility is the foundation for all that we do – not to mention foundational to democracy. So, thanks for joining us for the ride, and if you're new to us, we're so glad you're here. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Georgia Democrats set to regroup after 2024 election reversals from 2020 wins
Charlie Bailey is the perceived favorite to become the next Democratic Party of Georgia chair because he has experience running in statewide elections and an ability to rally donors. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder (File) The Democratic Party of Georgia is set to elect a new state chair on Saturday to compete against Republican-controlled state and federal governments. A new leader will be selected by the Georgia Democrats to replace Atlanta U.S. Representative Nikema Williams, who resigned in March following internal pressure from key members of her party, including U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff, who expressed doubts about her ability to devote sufficient attention to promoting the party's platform. Ossoff plans a bid to retain his Senate seat in 2026 and he expressed his desire for a change in party leadership after the Democrats' poor performance up and down the ballot in last year's election. President Donald Trump's administration's reshaping of the White House agenda looms large in the wake of his return to office, which raises questions about the role of Democratic party leadership in winning close elections. Seven candidates are competing for the Democratic Party of Georgia chair and plan to deliver speeches in Atlanta seeking support for their bid to lead a party that recently enjoyed historical success with two Democratic senators winning the 2020 election as well as the state's pivotal role in putting former President Joe Biden in the White House. The field of candidates hoping to lead Georgia Democrats includes Gwinnett County state Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes, former Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis and Rome City Councilwoman Wendy Davis, and perceived frontrunner Charley Bailey, a former candidate for attorney general and lieutenant governor. The current party chair Matthew Wilson said Democrats are excited about the state committee meeting on Saturday. He said they have seven great candidates running for chair, a treasurer's race, and other votes to determine key strategies. 'The party is primed to stand up against Republican policies rolling out from Washington, D.C.'The benefit to being a big tent party like the Democratic Party is that we have lots of different voices from all corners of the political spectrum. We've got conservatives, we have moderates, we have liberals, we have progressives, and it is going to be a big job for the new chair to make sure that we are united moving forward in a strategy that centers, again, what matters most, and that's electoral victories,' Wilson said. The 2026 election will include races for the 236-member General Assembly, U.S. Senate as well as constitutional officers including governor after Republican Brian Kemp is ineligible for a third term. University of Georgia political science professor Charles Bullock said there is a built-in advantage for incumbent state officials since 2023 legislation allows top Georgia lawmakers to set up their own political action committees during the legislative session. Democrats have signaled the importance of the next chair by making it a full-time role, especially with many statewide positions and key Senate races up for grabs in Georgia, Bullock said. The success of Democratic candidates will depend on their ability to coalesce behind a strong candidate and avoid bitter primaries, he said. 'Its potentially going to be a big year in Georgia giving Democrats a shot at winning some of the statewide constitutional offices,'. 'They haven't won an open seat statewide constitutional office in this century.' Bailey is the perceived favorite to become the next party chair because he has experience running in statewide elections and an ability to rally donors by not having certain skeletons that would be easy for Republicans to take advantage of, Bullock said. 'He can learn from the challenges that he had to overcome as a candidate,' Bullock said. ' He is advising others who maybe have not had the kind of scrutiny that a person gets when they start running statewide so he can give advice in terms of here's some things you don't want to say you believe in.' Brian Robinson, a Georgia Republican strategist, said Democratic candidates will need to overcome the perception that Georgia is well-run by Republicans. Democrats could sway voters by taking advantage of national issues such as Trump's poor approval ratings on the economy as he's followed through on plans to impose steep tariffs. A new Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll found that a majority of registered Georgia voters currently disapprove of Trump's policies on the economy, tariffs, NATO and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs. The poll, however, revealed the support for Trump's policies were sharply partisan, with 85% of surveyed Republicans approving compared to 97% of Democrats opposed. 'Republicans in Georgia are going into 2026 with a lot of things out of their control,' Robinson said. They're going to nee focus on the things they can control: get out to vote, raise money, and pick candidates who can win. But we know that there's a headwind for the party in the White House.' 'If Trump's approval rating is the low 40s or high 30s, that's a prime opportunity for Democrats in the state, if they can have discipline to pick good candidates who don't scare the middle, don't scare independents, and can win (support) from some swing voters in the metro Atlanta area,' Robinson said. The big question for 2026 is whether Kemp enters the GOP field of potential challengers to Ossoff's re-election bid. 'Is Brian Kemp heads and tails the best choice for Republicans as the most competitive candidate?' Robinson asked. 'Yes, absolutely and anybody who says different is not a serious person to talk about politics.' 'But that second tier of GOP candidates will become the first tier at that juncture,' Robinson said. 'They will get nominated, and they will have a lot of money behind them from a lot of organizations.' State Senate Minority Leader Harold Jones, an Augusta Democrat, said the next party chair needs to be able to work closely with the local parties. 'I think the key is to work with the county parties and make sure you have a good brand name as far as 2026 is concerned,' the Augusta Democrat said. ' I think all of them are basically committed to that.' Sandy Springs Democratic Sen. Josh McLaurin is optimistic about the party having a groundswell of support for officials fighting for party ideals. 'They want to see energy, the Democratic base does, from its leadership, because what we don't want is to treat this like it's just normal politics, like the Trump deportations and the tariffs and all of this is just kind of business as usual,' McLaurin said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
