Gov. Cox signs two bills taking on social media

SALT LAKE CITY — Gov. Spencer Cox signed two social media bills into law on Thursday afternoon. One bill requires parental permission for teens to use the sites. The other makes it the company’s responsibility to prove they’re not harming teens and allows parents to sue.

Potential court cases may be brewing over this first-in-the-nation legislation. Sen. Mike Mckell (R-Spanish Fork) sponsored one bill and Rep. Jordan Teuscher (R-South Jordan) sponsored the other.

There are questions over whether these bills violate the First Amendment, which guarantees a right to free speech. Cox argued earlier cases proving that was wrongly decided and reiterated he anticipates a lawsuit.

“I can’t wait to hold them accountable. I can’t wait to get in front of a judge and jury with these media companies. It will be one of the happiest days of my life.”

Cox even had a little Twitter spat with a prominent tech First Amendment lawyer, Ari Cohn. 

Imagine being *excited* to go to court claiming that the government should have the power to limit expressive rights.

This is just not it. Protecting kids is a complicated issue, and deserves careful thought–not harried nonsense that tramples on civil liberties. https://t.co/nnr6kzI0QT

— Ari Cohn (@AriCohn) March 16, 2023

“I want to make sure every family in Utah gets to see me sign those bills,” said Cox.

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