A federal court in Louisiana on Tuesday barred parts of the Biden administration from communicating with social media platforms about extensive online content, but the ruling was falsely misleading about the coronavirus pandemic and other issues. It can stifle efforts to combat discourse.
In the judgment Judge Terry A. Doughty of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana said parts of the government, including the Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, cannot interact with social media companies for “purposes.” Encourage, encourage, pressure, or induce in any way to remove, remove, suppress, or reduce any Content that contains protected free speech; “
In granting the preliminary injunction, Judge Doty said government agencies cannot flag specific posts on social media platforms or require reports on efforts to remove content. The ruling said the government could continue to notify the platform of posts detailing crimes, threats to national security and foreign attempts to influence elections.
The ruling was a win for Republicans and other conservatives who have filed a series of lawsuits alleging the government coaxed or coerced social media companies like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube into censoring their critics. While the administration is likely to appeal the ruling, the implications could be far-reaching, forcing government officials, including law enforcement, to refrain from notifying platforms of questionable content. there is a possibility.
Government officials say they do not have the authority to order the deletion of posts or entire accounts, but they do take action against illegal or harmful content, especially in cases of criminal activity such as child sexual abuse and human trafficking. We have worked with Big Tech for many years to teach. This includes regular meetings to share information about Islamic State and other terrorist groups.
The White House did not immediately comment. Meta, which owns Google, Facebook and Instagram, did not respond to requests for comment. Twitter could not be reached for comment.
