Posted on Jun 1, 2022
Supreme Court blocks Texas social media law from taking effect
820
12
3
10
10
0
https://www.npr.org/2022/05/31/ [login to see] /supreme-court-blocks-texas-social-media-law-from-taking-effect
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday blocked a Texas social media law from taking effect that intended to punish online platforms for removing political speech.
The vote was 5-to-4, with the court's three most conservative justices filing a written dissent that would have allowed the Texas law to start. In a surprise move, liberal Justice Elena Kagan joined in the dissent, but she did not explain her rationale.
The Texas law bars Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and other popular social media sites from blocking content based on viewpoint. Gov. Greg Abbott maintained that the law was a justifiable response to "a dangerous movement by social media companies to silence conservative viewpoints and ideas."
A federal district court temporarily halted state officials from enforcing the law, saying it likely violates the First Amendment. But a divided panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals allowed enforcement to proceed.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday blocked a Texas social media law from taking effect that intended to punish online platforms for removing political speech.
The vote was 5-to-4, with the court's three most conservative justices filing a written dissent that would have allowed the Texas law to start. In a surprise move, liberal Justice Elena Kagan joined in the dissent, but she did not explain her rationale.
The Texas law bars Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and other popular social media sites from blocking content based on viewpoint. Gov. Greg Abbott maintained that the law was a justifiable response to "a dangerous movement by social media companies to silence conservative viewpoints and ideas."
A federal district court temporarily halted state officials from enforcing the law, saying it likely violates the First Amendment. But a divided panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals allowed enforcement to proceed.
Supreme Court blocks Texas social media law from taking effect
Posted from npr.org
Supreme Court
State of Texas
Social Media
Facebook
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 3
2
2
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."At the heart of the dispute is the First Amendment's protection of freedom of speech and thorny questions around private companies' censorship across networks of more than 50 million users.
Texas Republicans enacted the law in response to longstanding frustration from conservatives who feel silenced or sidelined by the media companies' moderation policies.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is leading defense of the law, has argued the companies' size rivals public utilities in influence and importance to Americans' daily lives and therefore should be regulated accordingly.
"The platforms are the 21st-century descendants of telegraph and telephone companies: that is, traditional common carriers," he wrote. The government can require common carriers to generally accept all users.
The NAACP and Anti-Defamation League are siding with the companies, warning of enhanced risk to public safety if the law is allowed to stand and more like it take hold across the country. They say the private companies have a right and obligation to police content on their sites to ensure the welfare of members.
PHOTO: Justice Neil M. Gorsuch arrives at the U.S. Capitol ahead of the inauguration of President Joe Biden in Washington, Jan. 20, 2021."...
..."At the heart of the dispute is the First Amendment's protection of freedom of speech and thorny questions around private companies' censorship across networks of more than 50 million users.
Texas Republicans enacted the law in response to longstanding frustration from conservatives who feel silenced or sidelined by the media companies' moderation policies.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is leading defense of the law, has argued the companies' size rivals public utilities in influence and importance to Americans' daily lives and therefore should be regulated accordingly.
"The platforms are the 21st-century descendants of telegraph and telephone companies: that is, traditional common carriers," he wrote. The government can require common carriers to generally accept all users.
The NAACP and Anti-Defamation League are siding with the companies, warning of enhanced risk to public safety if the law is allowed to stand and more like it take hold across the country. They say the private companies have a right and obligation to police content on their sites to ensure the welfare of members.
PHOTO: Justice Neil M. Gorsuch arrives at the U.S. Capitol ahead of the inauguration of President Joe Biden in Washington, Jan. 20, 2021."...
(2)
(0)
0
0
0
0
0
0
This is interesting rational: “A federal district court temporarily halted state officials from enforcing the law, saying it likely violates the First Amendment.” A law the prevents companies from silencing speech violets the 1st Amendment. By this logic we take another step toward Marxism. We currently live in a Dictatorship that the Progressive Democrats are leading. What a sad time for our Country.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google