CEO DATELINE - Tech groups sue Florida over social media ‘censorship' law
CEO DATELINE - Tech groups sue Florida over social media ‘censorship' law
- June 1, 2021 |
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Walt Williams
Two technology industry associations are suing Florida over a new law that prevents social media companies from banning candidates for political office on their platforms, the news site The Verge reported.
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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.
NetChoice and the Computer and Communications Industry Association are asking a U.S. district court to prevent implementation of the law, saying it amounts to a "frontal assault on the First Amendment," according to The Verge. They also say the law violates Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which gives social media companies broad legal immunity from what users posts on their platforms.
"The (law) requires members to display and prioritize user-generated content that runs counter to their terms, policies, and business practices; content that will likely offend and repel their users and advertisers; and even content that is unlawful, dangerous to public health and national security, and grossly inappropriate for younger audiences," the associations said in the lawsuit.
The associations also noted the law specifically exempts Disney and other large media companies with theme parks in Florida.
In an interview with the news site The Spectator, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he expected the law to be challenged in court and believes it will survive legal scrutiny.
"We're basically advancing a state consumer fraud theory," DeSantis said. ‘You know, they're advertising certain things, they have certain service terms. They're not abiding by that. That is a fraud on the public. So we think that that will be upheld, but we absolutely anticipate litigation."
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