2023-07-05 07:31:22
An American court restricts officials’ communication with communication platform companies
A US federal court, Tuesday, imposed restrictions on the communication of senior officials of President Joe Biden’s administration with social media companies with the aim of modifying or deleting content guaranteed by the Freedom of Expression Act.
This ruling came following Republican attorneys general in the states of Louisiana and Missouri filed a lawsuit accusing government officials of going too far with social media platforms to combat misinformation and fake news regarding vaccines and elections.
The ruling by a federal court in Louisiana marks a victory for conservatives in the United States, who claim that the Biden administration has used the COVID-19 pandemic and fake news as an excuse to censor online content.
This judicial decision might also seriously limit the ability of government agencies, such as the FBI or the Departments of State and Justice, to report false or misleading content to social platforms.
It also includes senior officials, such as White House spokeswoman Karen Jean-Pierre.
The ruling restricts officials from communicating or meeting with social platforms to “incite, encourage, pressure, or incite in any way” to remove or modify content protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which provides for “freedom of expression.”
A White House official said the Justice Department would review the court’s decision to assess its options. “This administration has strengthened responsible actions to protect public health, safety, and security when faced with challenges such as a deadly pandemic or outside attacks on our elections,” he added.
The official stressed that social media companies bear responsibility for their content, and “but make independent choices regarding the information they provide.”
There was no immediate response from social platforms to comment on the ruling, including Facebook and Twitter.
(AFP)
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