CEO DATELINE - Internet groups blast Florida social media ‘censorship' law
CEO DATELINE - Internet groups blast Florida social media ‘censorship' law
- May 25, 2021 |
- Walt Williams
A new law in Florida would fine social media companies that ban political candidates from their platforms, but associations that represent some of those companies say the legislation is unconstitutional.
The law was passed by Florida Republicans in response to the decisions by Facebook and Twitter to ban former President Donald Trump following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Social media companies would be hit with fines as much as $250,000 per day for "deplatforming" candidates in federal and state races in Florida, according to CNN.
The law is likely to be challenged in court and at least three associations believed it will be overturned. In a statement, Robert Callahan, senior vice president of state government affairs for the Internet Association, said the legislation "will ultimately leave Floridians more exposed to bad actors online."
"It is also more about politics than prevention, as the bill arbitrarily exempts major mass media corporations as long as they are also in the theme park business," he said, noting the law's exemption for Disney and other media companies with theme parks in Florida.
The Computer & Communications Industry Association said the law will fuel internet trolls and benefit foreign governments seeking to spread disinformation by discouraging social media sites from enforcing their terms of service.
"This unconstitutional bill threatens to create more opportunities for foreign extremists peddling anti-American propaganda and fewer opportunities for internet-using Floridians," CCIA President Matt Schruers said.
Carl Szabo, vice president and general counsel at NetChoice, said the First Amendment prohibits the government from compelling or controlling speech on private websites.
"By forcing websites to host speech, this bill takes us closer to a state-run internet where the government can cherry-pick winners and losers," he said.
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