CHOOSE LANGUAGE

SELECT LANGUAGE BELOW

SCOTUS Weighs In On Social Media Bans In Florida And California

February 26, 2024

(Photo illustration: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

OAN’s Brooke Mallory
5:46 PM – Monday, February 26, 2024

The Supreme Court on Monday heard two issues related to controversial laws imposing social media restrictions in Texas and Florida after lower courts handed down conflicting rulings.

The law seeks to prevent social media companies from banning users for their political beliefs, even if they violate the platform’s standards.

If upheld, these could make it more difficult for companies to impose their own policies or change the nature of free expression online.

“The scope of these lawsuits is potentially very large,” said Scott Wilkens, senior counsel at the Knight First Amendment Institute. “This is the first time the Supreme Court will actually consider the First Amendment rights of social media platforms and, by extension, the shape and contours of free speech online.”

Do big tech companies have the right to censor or “deplatform” political speech they don’t like?

The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to consider the issue today during arguments on laws enacted in Florida and Texas to protect individuals from political censorship. pic.twitter.com/59yiavqyq4

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) February 26, 2024

“We knew this day would come,” DeSantis said. “Regardless of what the court decides, we will do everything we can to make sure people have the right to speak in these public forums.”

Two of 2021’s Republican criticisms of social media companies enforcing restrictions on certain celebrities, resulting in “politically biased moves” that led to the bans and suspensions of conservative leaders. This led to the passage of the law.

Prominent platforms including Twitter (now known as X) and Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, disabled former President Trump’s social media accounts due to his comments regarding the Jan. 6 invasion of the U.S. Capitol. This further intensified the turmoil.^th2021.

In November 2022, Twitter allowed Trump to regain access to his account under new ownership in Elon Musk. In January 2023, Meta also lifted its ban on President Trump.

“Online services have well-established First Amendment rights to host, curate and share content,” Chris Marchese, director of litigation at NetChoice, said in a statement.