Two GOP judges just gave Texas control over Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube
VoxJan 04, 2022
Federal Court Reinstates Texas Social Media Censorship Law
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Image copyright: Getty Images [via Fox News]
The Facts
On Wed., a federal appeals court reinstated a Texas law that prevents social media platforms with 50M or more monthly users from suppressing content based on its viewpoint.
The bill, known as HB 20, was passed last year, but in Dec. a federal district judge issued a preliminary injunction that blocked it from being enforced, citing concerns that it violated social media companies' freedom of speech.
The Spin
Left narrative
This is an attack on freedom of speech. Wednesday's decision will allow HB 20 to be enforced before the court has even ruled on its legality, risking huge ramifications. It could reshape the rights and obligations of all websites, our relationship with technology and the internet, and even our basic understanding of the First Amendment.
Right narrative
For centuries common carrier laws have required certain industries to operate without discrimination. The new Texas law is simply applying these historical precedents to the modern public square: social media. Big tech has a history of censoring content and blocking accounts it doesn't agree with, and it's time to hold them accountable.
