Texas bill would allow state to sue social media companies like Facebook and Twitter over free speec

[applegrove]

https://www.rawstory.com/2019/04/texas-bill-allow-state-sue-social-media-companies-like-facebook-twitter-free-speech/amp/

Texas Tribune

"SNIP.....

A bill before the Texas Senate seeks to prevent social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter from censoring users based on their viewpoints. Supporters say it would protect the free exchange of ideas but critics say the bill contradicts a federal law that allows social media platforms to regulate their own content.

The measure — Senate Bill 2373 by state Sen. Bryan Hughes R-Mineola — would hold social media platforms accountable for restricting users’ speech based on personal opinions. Hughes said the bill applies to social media platforms that advertise as unbiased but still censor users. The bill was unanimously approved by the Senate State Affairs Committee last week.

“Senate Bill 2373 tries to prevent those companies that control these new public spaces, this new public square, from picking winners and losers based on content,” Hughes said in the committee hearing. “Basically if the company represents, ‘we’re an open forum and we don’t discriminate based on content,’ then they shouldn’t be able to discriminate based on content.”

During the hearing, Hughes pointed to a recent ad on Facebook by the Texas Senate Republican Caucus in support of an anti-abortion bill that the platform flagged because it could be a “negative experience.” Facebook objected to the ad because it asked users to share it, Hughes said Facebook told him. However, the Republican Caucus posted an ad about the Senate’s property tax bill that also asked users to share, and it was promoted with no issue, Hughes said.



....SNIP"

[gratuitous]

1. Texas Republican: I don't understand how the First Amendment works

So Imma introduce a bill wot I wrote all by myself!

I wonder if Sen. Hughes will force Fox to host content it doesn't like? Or doesn't he consider Fox an open forum operating on the public airwaves?

[Initech]

2. They do realize that they're getting banned because they repeatedly break the rules right?

And I'll still report their hateful memes and hate speech when I see them, it's my duty to do so!

[Liberal In Texas]

3. Another wingnut bill that will die on the vine.

The nutty repubs introduce bills all the time they know have no chance of passing. Maybe they think one might sneak through.

[Sucha NastyWoman]

5. Paying legal fees for this crap is

Why public schools are getting less and less funding each year

[Takket]

4. the biggest problem with social media is these companies rarely enforce their own rules

this bill proposes the exact opposite, that they shouldn't even have those rules!