In a 5-4 decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled against a Texas law that would have impeded social media companies from moderating content.
The majority included justices from the high court’s liberal and conservative blocs.
The unlikely coalition included Stephen Breyer, John Roberts, Sonia Sotomayor and Trump appointees Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh.
The minority was equally diverse, albeit smaller, as Mediate reports:
Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Elena Kagan, and Clarence Thomas dissented.
HB 20 vowed to protect “Texans from wrongful censorship on social media platforms.” It was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) last September.
In a press release covering the signing ceremony, Abbott said at the time:
Social media websites have become our modern-day public square. They are a place for healthy public debate where information should be able to flow freely — but there is a dangerous movement by social media companies to silence conservative viewpoints and ideas. That is wrong, and we will not allow it in Texas.
Mediaite adds:
Opponents argued the law, if applied to large platforms, would have forced them to allow hate speech, illegal content, dangerous rhetoric, and trends that put children in danger — such as the Tide Pod challenge.
NBC News reported a challenge to HB 20 was filed by the trade groups NetChoice and the Computer and Communications Industry Association.
Justice Alito penned the dissenting opinion.
So, what do you think? Does the government have a role to play in regulating content moderation on social media platforms? Or is the public regulation of social media a bad idea? As always, tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
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Just another liberal trash failure. Moderating out lies is NOT against the law which is what the left does daily…..lie.
ANOTHER FAIL on the part of the Supreme Court. No surprise there. Justice is dead in the USA. Long live the USSA.
Well that depends… on how much federal or state dollars are flowing for their useage
We have two rhino’s on the supreme court. It is funny the on these social media, that the left can say anything and not get censored, but a conservative can issue almost the same opinion about the left and it will be deleted. Free speech for the chosen few.