CNN —A US District Judge has blocked an Arkansas social media age verification law that was set to go in effect Friday, according to a Thursday court filing. The act was aimed at requiring “age verification for use of social media; and to clarify liability for failure to perform age verification for use of social media and illegal retention of data,” according to Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ office. It’s believed this would have been the first law in the US requiring age verification from new social media users, and to require parental consent, to go into effect. “We’re pleased the court sided with the First Amendment and stopped Arkansas’ unconstitutional law from censoring free speech online and undermining the privacy of Arkansans, their families and their businesses as our case proceeds,” Marchese said in the statement. Brooks said the act is blocked “pending final disposition of the issues on the merits.”CNN reached out to Huckabee Sanders’ office for comment.

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Persons: Sarah Huckabee Sanders, It’s, Timothy L, Brooks, NetChoice —, “, Chris Marchese, “ We’re, ” Marchese, ”, Huckabee Sanders Organizations: CNN, Judge, Facebook, NetChoice Litigation, ” CNN Locations: Arkansas