Federal judge blocks Florida law that would penalize social media companies

[NutmegYankee]

Source: Washington Post

A federal judge on Wednesday blocked a Florida law that would penalize social media companies for blocking a politician’s posts, a blow to conservatives’ efforts to respond to Facebook and other websites’ suspension of former President Donald Trump.

The law was due to go into effect Thursday, but in issuing a preliminary injunction, U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle of the Northern District of Florida suggested that the law would be found unconstitutional.

“The plaintiffs are likely to prevail on the merits of their claim that these statutes violate the First Amendment,” Hinkle wrote. “There is nothing that could be severed and survive.”

The law laid out fines for tech companies that suspended political candidates in the run-up to an election.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/06/30/florida-social-media-law-trump/

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About as expected as a cold night in Antarctica.

[NYC Liberal]

1. If we pass the proposed amendment overturning Citizens United

and banning “corporate personhood”, this law would be allowed.

[PSPS]

2. Not true. They are two completely unrelated issues.

If my grocery store doesn't want to carry Acme widgets, should the government be allowed step in and "penalize" them? Of course not.

On the other hand, the CU decision, at its most basic level, involves only the ability of oligarchs/billionaires and foreign governments to circumvent any campaign finance laws.

[NYC Liberal]

6. True. Most of the amendments proposed explicitly state corporations

have no rights under the constitution. Here’s the “We the People” amendment:

Section 1. The rights protected by the Constitution of the United States are the rights of natural persons only. Artificial entities, such as corporations, limited liability companies, and other entities, established by the laws of any State, the United States, or any foreign state shall have no rights under this Constitution and are subject to regulation by the People, through Federal, State, or local law. The privileges of artificial entities shall be determined by the People, through Federal, State, or local law, and shall not be construed to be inherent or inalienable.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

3. This law is poorly drafted

Link to tweet

[DemocraticPatriot]

4. I find it incredibly ironic, to see so many Republicans turning against private property rights,

as it relates to social media websites.

The 1st Amendment only prohibits the government from restricting free speech. It has nothing to do with private entities. If you come to my house, you either follow my rules about speech or you're out, and that's my right as the property owner. The same goes for websites I have owned. The same goes for all these social media websites, and when you sign up to use them, you agree to follow their rules. (However, Trump probably doesn't bother about reading the 'terms of use'.)

[reACTIONary]

5. +10 nt

[OldBaldy1701E]

7. Well hell, rethugs

You are the ones screaming about the 'free market'... so go out and make your own site! Go and create a web based chat program and then you will have a venue for your bullshit. This is yet another example of the rethugs wanting the pie but doing absolutely nothing to earn it. They want the masses that are on Facebook, and yet now that these platforms are doing exactly what these same rethugs do whenever someone says or does something to offend their fee-fees, they want to try and legislate the platforms into doing what they want. Because these rethugs were so compliant when the mask and distancing guidelines were in effect and had no problems with doing either to aid the country during a pandemic. Just as they accepted that Joe Biden won the election. Just as they accepted that Hillary Clinton did not have a child trafficking ring in the basemen of a pizza parlor. How much more are people of conscience going to put up with this cabal of greedy weasels who want the world to do whatever they want, yet will do nothing in return? How much more??

[Maxheader]

8. Worthless gop handjobs ..

Promoted an obscenity that wanted to pwnd

the country . Just like it did in the senate.

Pushing the limits it found the constitution in the way.

Again...

[lark]

9. Death Sentence don't care.

It's all about the spectacle and show and he made his splash. Does he care that this is illegal, hell no, I'm sure he knows it is and is just jumping in early for 2024, burnishing his idiot medals - of which he has quite a few.