Families across the state issue call to fight back against NetChoice lawsuit – read the parents’ letter to AG Brown here

ANNAPOLIS – Today, more than a dozen parents of kids impacted by social media harms are urging Maryland Attorney General Brown to vigorously enforce and defend the law in court after Big Tech titans including Meta and Google sued to stop the law using their NetChoice front group.

“Our families have experienced the pain caused by the lack of oversight and accountability for online products that the Maryland Kids Code sought to fix. Now, we are concerned that kids and families will still be left waiting and remain at risk,” the Maryland parents wrote, adding: “We are confident that the safety and privacy of kids online is a top priority for you, as it is for parents and families across our state … you have the power and the responsibility to help lead the way.”

The letter comes after members of the Maryland Kids Code Coalition expressed outrage in response to the February lawsuit filed by NetChoice, a trade association representing major tech companies including Meta, Google, Amazon and Snap, aimed at blocking the implementation of the Maryland Kids Code, landmark legislation to provide stronger online protections for children and teens.

“We were proud to stand behind Governor Wes Moore when he signed the Maryland Kids Code into law after it received unanimous votes in both the House and Senate,” added the parents, who include leading Kids Code advocates Christine McComas and Todd & Mia Minor. “We would also like to partner with you in making sure the Kids Code is vigorously enforced so it can make the difference we fought so hard for and spare other families the unthinkable pain that ours have faced. This is the vision we all fought for, and it’s time to make it a reality.”

As Big Tech seeks to stop Maryland’s landmark Kids Code from coming into full force, states across the country continue to look to the landmark bill for inspiration, with more than half-a-dozen states pursuing similar privacy and design-targeted kids online safety bills in 2025 legislative sessions.

The Kids Code Coalition is a wide-ranging group of national and state organizations dedicated to improving youth online security and privacy by supporting policies that ensure companies prioritize kids’ and teens’ safety and developmental needs when designing digital platforms and products.

###