The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked a controversial California law that would have eventually required social media users in the state to verify their ages to prove they are not children, a measure that free speech advocates say would have significantly eroded anonymity and free speech online. This broad injunction supersedes a narrower preliminary injunction until the case can be heard in full in April.

Senate Bill 976 was signed into law by California Gov. Gavin Newsom last year and entered effect on Jan. 1. If allowed to proceed in full, the law would have banned notifications for minors on social media apps during certain hours and have eventually required age verification for all users to prove they are not children, such as by providing identification, starting in 2027.

Free speech advocates and technology trade groups argued the age verification provision would effectively end anonymous speech on major social media sites, and had a chilling effect on online speech.

On Jan. 2, a judge issued a partial preliminary injunction blocking the provisions regarding notifications for minors, paving the way to the new broader injunction that places the entire law on hold.

“We are grateful that the 9th Circuit agreed to halt SB 976 in its entirety while our case proceeds. This law has serious implications for Californians’ First Amendment and digital privacy rights,” said Paul Taske, Associate Director of Litigation for plaintiff NetChoice, a technology industry group. “NetChoice looks forward to stopping yet another online censorship regime from California’s government.”

While California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office has not yet released a statement on the latest, broader injunction, its earlier statement on the preliminary injunction reflects the office’s argument that the law’s emphasis is on protecting children, not limiting free speech.

“No part of SB 976 regulates speech,” wrote Bonta’s office in its earlier statement. “The California Department of Justice will continue to vigorously defend this law in court and remains confident in the commonsense statute enacted by both Democrats and Republicans, and supported by teachers, public health professionals, and parents in California.”