Judge Delivers Major Blow to Biden Admin in Social Media Censorship Case

The Epoch Times Header

A federal judge has made a historic ruling by partially granting an injunction that blocks various Biden administration officials and government agencies such as the Justice Department and the FBI from working with big tech firms to censor posts on social media.

The injunction came in response to a censorship-by-proxy lawsuit brought by attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri, who have accused Biden administration officials and various government agencies of pressuring social media companies to suspend accounts or take down posts.

Judge Terry A. Doughty ofย the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana wrote in the July 4 ruling (pdf and below) that various government agencies, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the U.S.ย State Department, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are prohibited from taking a range of actions regarding social media companies.

โ€˜Shocking, Appalling, and Concerningโ€™

Specifically, the agencies and their staff members are prohibited from meeting or contacting by phone, email, or text message or โ€œengaging in any communication of any kind with social-media companies urging, encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner for removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech,โ€ per the injunction.

The agencies are also barred from flagging content on posts on social media platforms and forwarding them to the companies with requests for action such as removing or otherwise suppressing their reach.

Encouraging or otherwise egging on social media companies to change their guidelines for the removal, suppression, or reduction of content that contains protected free speech by the government also isnโ€™t allowed.

โ€œThis could be arguably one of the most important First Amendment cases in modern history,โ€ Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, one of the plaintiffs, told The Epoch Timesโ€™ โ€œAmerican Thought Leadersโ€ in an interview following the ruling.

โ€œIf you look at the opinion that the judge lays out, he takes from our argument that this is basically one of the most massive undertakings of the federal government to limit American speech in the history of our country. The things that we uncovered, in this case, should be both shocking, appalling, and concerning for all Americans.โ€

By Tom Ozimek

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

State of Missouri V. Joseph R Biden Jr

State-of-Missouri-V-Joseph-R-Biden-Jr

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Columns

Was Pope Francis the Worst Pope Ever?

It has been said the recently passed 266th Pope...

LGBTQโ„ข Roundup: Groomers Gone Wild, Pt. II

Trans activist gets triggered by BBC reporter telling him he can't use womenโ€™s toilets, according to UK Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of women.

In Trade War, Chinaโ€™s Chokehold on US Medicine Moves Into Spotlight

Chinaโ€™s iron grip on supply of critical drug ingredients has been years in the making, driven by Beijingโ€™s strategic plan to dominate the pharma industry

College Footballโ€™s Spring rite

The Blue-White game, with the antiquated press box and a large section of the west stands now history and under renovation, marches on, but for how long?

Everything We Know About El Salvador Deportee Abrego Garcia

For more than five years, Kilmar Abrego Garcia was an adjudged illegal immigrant living on borrowed time in the United States.

News

Trumpโ€™s Agenda Faces Pushback Amid Legal Battles

Trump faces onslaught of challenges to his agenda, some reaching the nationโ€™s highest court and could ultimately shape US legal landscape.

Texas Governor Signs โ€˜Texas DOGEโ€™ Into Law to Cut Regulations, Boost Government Efficiency

Texas Gov. Abbott signed Regulatory Reform and Efficiency Act to streamline govt processes and reduce regulatory burden on businesses and residents.

Federal Judge Blocks Trumpโ€™s Directive to Require Proof of Citizenship for Voter Registration

A judge on April 24 blocked President Trumpโ€™s ordering that officials require people provide proof of U.S. citizenship in order to register to vote.

24-Year-Old Highland Park Shooter Sentenced to Life In Prison

A man who shot and killed a slew of people at a 2022 Fourth of July parade north of Chicago was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole.

Man Charged With Arson in New Jersey Pine Barrens Fire, Officials Say

Authorities have charged a man with arson for allegedly sparking a large fire currently ongoing in the New Jersey Pine Barrens area.

Trump Admin Asks Supreme Court to Allow Prohibition on Troops With Gender Dysphoria

Trump admin is asking Supreme Court to halt federal judgeโ€™s order preventing it from implementing policy disqualifying individuals with gender dysphoria.

New Mexico Supreme Court Bans Former Judge From Exercising Judicial Authority

NM Supreme Court barred former judge from exercising judicial authority in future amid reports alleged TdA gang member was arrested living on his property.

Former US Army Officer Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Selling Sensitive Military Information

Former U.S. Army intel officer sentenced to 7 years in prison for conspiring to collect and sell national defense info to individual affiliated with CCP.
spot_img

Related Articles