A federal judge has blocked the enforcement of California’s Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, a law designed to protect children’s safety when using the internet. The judge ruled that the law’s restrictions on commercial speech likely violate the First Amendment of the US Constitution. The law, enacted in September, requires online platforms to evaluate their products and services for potential harm to children. Businesses must also estimate the ages of child users and adjust privacy settings accordingly. Trade group NetChoice, which represents companies such as Amazon, Google, Facebook, and TikTok, sued to block the law, arguing that it would force private companies to act as content censors or face substantial fines. The law, based on a similar legislation in the UK, was set to take effect next year. Other courts have also intervened in regulating children’s internet activities.