Florida governor signs bill barring social media companies from blocking political candidates

[spanone]

Tech trade groups say law is unconstitutional, conflicts with federal law

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Monday that aims to punish social media companies for their moderation decisions, a move that Silicon Valley immediately criticized and likely sets the stage for potential legal challenges.

The legislation would bar Internet companies from suspending political candidates in the run-up to elections. It also would also make it easier for the Florida state attorney general and individuals to bring lawsuits when they think the tech companies have acted unfairly.

Legal experts and tech industry trade groups immediately raised concerns about the constitutionality of the law and warned that it gives the government too much power over online speech.

DeSantis, a potential 2024 Republican presidential contender, pushed for the legislation’s passage amid conservatives’ complaints that tech companies censor them — charges that the companies vehemently deny. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube’s decisions to suspend former president Donald Trump’s account in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot have only heightened the stakes.

+++PayWall+++https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/05/24/florida-gov-social-media-230/

[OriginalGeek]

1. DeAsskiss is such an embarrassment

that is all.

[VMA131Marine]

2. This law should not survive

a constitutional challenge on First Amendment grounds. Is attempt by the state of Florida to regulate speech.

[PortTack]

9. This!! I hope desthsatan enjoys losing

[Darwins_Retriever]

16. Not even 1st amendment

These companies are regulated the the Feds as telecomm companies. States have very narrow regulation capabilities. I I was these companies, I'd block every Florida ISP accesses to my apps. Let's see, how long until protests start after FL residents can no longer get Facebook, Twitter, Instagram ...

[Me.]

3. Nonsensical Show Of Nothing

businesses do what they want and no two-bit Con can change that

[sop]

4. DeSantis should just call this "The Trump Twitter and Facebook Ban Bill" and be done with it.

[katmondoo]

5. I had to get off Facebook because of all the trumpie posts. I won't go back.

The only social media I have now is DU. I love DU.

[keithsw]

7. Several years ago

We decided since we were relocating that I would get Facebook. I asked a friend of mine about it and he said " Facebook will show you how stupid some people are " and boy, was he right! I didn't have it 6 months and got rid of it. Never again

[keithsw]

6. He will lose

This in court so quickly it will make your head spin! But he knows this. This is just to appeal to the Trump voters

[PortTack]

10. +1000

[4Q2u2]

8. Got to love those Small Government R's

Does this mean Facebook has to make same sex wedding cakes?

[kirkuchiyo]

11. No but its to bad Zuckerberg's mother didn't have an abortion nt

[Norbert]

12. So we can be reasonably assured insHannity cannot permanently ban callers

that has opposing viewpoints to his. ...sarcasm...

[tenderfoot]

13. There's no way that's enforceable

eom

[spanone]

14. I'm sure it will be in court in no time.

desantis showing his fealty to trump.

[Buns_of_Fire]

15. I'll type this very slowly so maybe mini-trump can understand it.

The First Amendment applies to government censoring free speech -- not private companies. They can kick you off their platform for a good reason, a bad reason, or no reason at all.

So, we clear on that? No? I didn't think so. See ya in court, Son-of-Loser!

[DallasNE]

17. How Do They Think That Is Legal?

Ever heard of freedom of the press. That means they choose what content to allow.

[GoCubsGo]

18. Good luck trying to enforce that. nt

[Caliman73]

19. If only people could die from irony...

Jesus! This guy makes up a FAKE controversy about the first amendment, then ACTUALLY creates a first amendment issue by using government power to try to bully private companies to advantage conservative propaganda.

I know that this will very likely fail in court but the exercise is already a loss for everyone.

Tech companies DO NOT censor conservative speech. It is just that conservative speech, as it has become under Trump and even before then, is pretty much repulsive and likely to run afoul of Terms of Service.

They did not ban Trump because he is conservative, or Republican. They banned him because he continued to spread lies even after he was warned not to do so. As the leader of the Republican Party and Conservative movement, he has a special obligation not to lie, but he was the most blatant liar over the past 5 years and his lies not only facilitated death in the worst pandemic in the last 100 years, but they have severely damaged the concept of democratic elections. They tech companies had no real choice but to suspend his accounts.

De Santis created a real controversy based on the false premise.

[slater71]

20. He did this for only one reason.

He will be running in 2024 and does not want to be thrown off these sites because he will act just like Trump and he knows that got Trump thrown off. People down said that the lawsuits will cost the people millions of dollars. he said that it has to be done and was more important to do this than the cost. Just like Trump using other people's money to protect himself. If elected, he will be another Trump. He is that dangerous.

[Grins]

21. Any thought to how you are going to enforce it...?

In Florida, on companies based in other states...?