In a big courtroom victory for Gov. Ron DeSantis, a federal Judge in Tallahassee on Friday denied a request to block Florida’s ban on social media for young teens.

U.S. District Judge Mark Walker rejected a request by a consortium of technology companies for a preliminary injunction that would have at least further temporarily blocked the state’s ban from taking effect.

In his 13-page ruling, Walker said the groups representing trade associations failed to prove which social media platforms — such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, X and others — would be affected under Florida’s ban.

“Plaintiffs have not provided evidence showing that at least one of their members meets the injury-in-fact requirement,” the Judge wrote.

The technology companies had argued in court that at least one of the social media platforms would likely be covered by Florida’s law and would have to spend money and resources to comply with it. Walker said that wasn’t enough of a convincing argument.

The law applies narrowly only to social media platforms with addictive features, like push notifications, with 10% or more of daily active users who are younger than 16 and who spend on average two hours or more on the app. If all those conditions aren’t met, the law doesn’t apply to the platform.

The social media law, which was supposed to take effect Jan. 1, would block anyone under 16 from using some social media but would allow 14- and 15-year-olds to use the online services with a parent’s permission. Companies that violate the law could be fined up to $50,000 per violation.

The Attorney General’s Office had agreed not to enforce the new law until Walker ruled on the request for the preliminary injunction. It wasn’t immediately clear when the DeSantis administration would begin enforcing the bans. The Governor had championed passage of the law through the Legislature last year.

The broader fight by the technology companies against the law continues in federal court in Tallahassee. Walker’s decision Friday was an interim ruling that focused narrowly on whether he would issue a preliminary injunction in the case.

“I am grateful that the courts have once again ruled in favor of Florida, and I am grateful also for the lives and the influence that social media will now not have on our children, said Rep. Toby Overdorf, a Palm City Republican, one of the sponsors of the law. “I’m excited that Florida is entering a new chapter and being able to have freedom for our kids.”

During courtroom arguments Feb. 28 over the injunction, Walker — who was appointed by then-President Barack Obama in 2012 — had signaled Florida would have a “hard hoe to row” to prove that the ban doesn’t infringe on the rights of young teens in Florida.

“I just think that there’s clear precedent across the country why these social media bans are against the First Amendment, and I have no doubt that the final outcome will reflect that,” said Rep. Anna Eskamani, an Orlando Democrat. “There’s going to be a lot of confusion and chaos for all our families. It’s really important that everyone stays informed, understands what their options are, and do what they can to follow the law.”

The law would also require adults in Florida who use social media accounts to prove their age using third-party verification systems. There are few generally agreed-upon methods for age verification on the internet.

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This story was produced by Fresh Take Florida, a news service of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. The reporter can be reached at [email protected]. You can donate to support our students here.

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SAVE is making it easier than ever for LGBTQ-aligned activists to organize and participate in events and protests.

The South Florida nonprofit just unveiled its new Action Center. It’s an online portal through which visitors can sign up to speak at a local City Commission meeting, contact elected officials, register to vote, learn lobbying skills and volunteer for events.

Democracy is under attack, the group says, and the time to act — boldly and locally — is now.

“The assault on American values, the erosion of democracy, and the emboldening of extremists is an affront to who we are. Ignoring this won’t solve anything. It is time we look these threats in the eye, gather our community, and fight back,” a Friday statement from the Miami-based organization said.

“National organizations alone cannot do this work for us. If we are going to win this fight, we must invest in local organizations. That means breaking old habits and recognizing that our best defense begins in our own backyard. SAVE is part of the last line of defense in South Florida. We will hold the line, defend the truth, and execute a regional strategy to fight back. But we need you with us.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis and the GOP-dominated Legislature have enacted several laws in recent years targeting LGBTQ-inclusive policies and practices. They include a ban on classroom instruction of gender identity and sexual preference in public schools, easier book-challenging policies for school libraries and criminalizing the use of bathrooms or participation in sports not matching a person’s sex at birth.

Republican lawmakers this Session are carrying bills to ban pride flags and other banners with “political viewpoints” at government facilities, prohibit certain employees from having to use the preferred pronouns of coworkers and outlaw diversity, equity and inclusion at medical schools.

Miles Davis, Director of Advocacy and Communications for SAVE, said the Action Center “will serve as a central hub for supporters to participate in initiatives that drive real change at the local level.”

“Our goal with the new Action Center,” he told Florida politics, “is to empower individuals to take meaningful action in support of LGBTQ+ equality through advocacy, civic engagement, and community involvement.”

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A bill that would increase penalties for those who flee or attempt to elude law enforcement is heading to the House floor.

The House Judiciary Committee advanced the measure (HB 113) by a 19-1 vote. Ocala Republican Rep. Ryan Chamberlin introduced the bill, aiming to address the dangers that law enforcement officers and Floridians face on roadways from high-speed pursuits.

“Members, we have a problem. Many of you remember that last year we bowed our heads in a moment of silence for State Trooper Zachary Fink, who was killed in a high-speed pursuit,” Chamberlin said. “The suspect, who initially got away, was driving at twice the speed limit. Trooper Fink then picked up the pursuit, after the suspect made a U-turn into the opposite direction of highway traffic.”

Chamberlin noted that the pursuit ended in tragedy when Fink was hit by an oncoming vehicle.

“Trooper Fink followed, turning directly into the path of a tractor-trailer,” Chamberlin said. “The truck driver passed away at the scene, while Trooper Fink was air-lifted to the hospital where he died. Trooper Fink was 26 years old. Currently under Florida law, criminals are continuously pushing the limits of our laws, putting civilians and law enforcement officers in danger in regard to high-speed chasing.”

Chamberlin argued that current penalties are not sufficient to deter high-speed pursuits.

“The bill was brought to me by my local Sheriff and Lieutenant Paul Bloom, Sheriff Billy Woods. We’ve had several conversations about this problem,” Chamberlin said. “The penalties just haven’t been enough. Since 2020 in Marion County Sheriff’s Office alone, they’ve documented over 1,100 high-speed chases. That’s almost one every day and a half. … The numbers really increase across the whole state.”

Orlando Democratic Rep. Bruce Antone asked how the bill would address law enforcement pursuits when the officer is in an unmarked vehicle.

In response, Chamberlin said the bill does require that law enforcement vehicles have some sort of insignia on their vehicles so people can identify that it belongs to law enforcement.

Homestead Democratic Rep. Kevin Chambliss also raised concerns over incidents where vehicles pretending to be law enforcement had been pulling over other drivers.

“In Miami-Dade County, we have high-speed chases all the time. It’s a very, very serious issue,” Chambliss said. “So, I definitely understand and accept the purpose of the bill. However, interestingly enough, in Miami-Dade County, we have also had fake police officers pulling people over. You can Google it. … It’s a concern.”

William Smith from the Florida Police Benevolent Association and the Florida Highway Patrol, was a proponent of the bill and addressed the questions concerning unmarked vehicles.

“I’ll give a little more insight to some of what my agency does. If it’s an unmarked vehicle that started a pursuit, and other vehicles join in or other marked units, they would take over the pursuit and the unmarked vehicle would fall to the rear,” Smith said.

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