By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 9-22-21
Computer companies are suing Texas over a law that prevents social media censorship based on “viewpoint,” saying nothing is a clearer First Amendment violation than regulation based on viewpoint.
The bill, which passed Sept. 9, “prohibits an interactive computer service from censoring a user, a user’s expression, or a user’s ability to receive the expression of another person based on … the viewpoint of the user or another person.” It also requires large social media platforms like Facebook and Google to disclose how they manage content, to publish an acceptable use policy that users can find telling them what content is acceptable, to publish quarterly transparency reports, and to have a complaint system in place for violations of its policies.
Trade group the Computer & Communications Industry Association joined with NetChoice to file suit, as CCIA did against a similar Florida law. CCIA pointed out that the Florida law was ruled unconstitutional, but that decision has been appealed by the state. » Read More