Florida seeks Supreme Court okay of social media law

Florida seeks Supreme Court okay of social media law

Florida is asking the United States Supreme Court to review an 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that legislation introduced in the Sunshine State violates the First Amendment.

Florida contends that the law does not infringe the First Amendment as it regulates conduct rather than speech. If SCOTUS ultimately agrees with Florida, many more states will likely enact similar legislation, so the stakes are high.

The case revolves around Florida Senate Bill 7072. Among other things, the bill would severely limit the ability of sites like Facebook and Twitter from moderating content on their sites. The Act provides that social media platforms “may not willfully deplatform” users who are qualified candidates for political office in Florida. Platforms also may not deplatform a “journalistic enterprise based on the content of its publication or broadcast,” with “journalistic enterprise” defined based on, among other things, the number of words or other content the entity publishes and the number of viewers or subscribers it receives. Finally, the Act prohibits censorship and shadow banning of journalistic enterprises based on what they say, and prohibits the use of algorithms to shadow ban material posted by or about candidates during the campaign.

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/business/2022/10/02/strictly-legal-florida-seeks-supreme-court-okay-of-social-media-law/69523309007/