Court Limits Biden Admin's Ability to Urge Social Media Content Removal

Appeals court scaled back order restricting Biden administration's contact with social media about content removal
Court ruled White House, CDC, Surgeon General can't "coerce" platforms to take down posts
But court threw out broader language that blocked agencies from urging content takedowns
Lawsuit accused officials of threatening platforms over COVID, Hunter Biden, election fraud posts
Judges removed some agencies from order, said mere encouragement doesn't always violate First Amendment

politico.com

Relevant topic timeline:

8/16/2023

Republicans scrutinize Biden White House’s emails with tech platforms

Main Topic: Internal corporate emails from social media companies reveal White House pressure to censor content, sparking concerns about First Amendment rights and government coercion. Key Points: 1. Internal emails from Meta and Twitter, obtained through a federal lawsuit and a congressional investigation, show White House officials requesting the removal of certain posts. 2. Republicans argue that these requests violate the First Amendment rights of tech platforms and their users. 3. Legal experts are divided on whether government pressure to censor content constitutes coercion and a violation of free speech rights. The Supreme Court may need to address this issue.

9/8/2023

Appeals Court Narrows Order Blocking Biden Officials from Urging Social Media Censorship

A federal appeals court has narrowed a judge's order blocking Biden administration officials from communicating with social media companies, reversing much of the controversial order which claimed that the administration engaged in unconstitutional censorship in its efforts to combat Covid-19 disinformation.

9/9/2023

Court Rules White House, CDC Violated 1st Amendment by Pressuring Social Media Censorship

The 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that the Biden administration, government health officials, and the FBI likely violated the First Amendment by influencing tech companies to remove or suppress posts on COVID-19 and elections, with the decision limiting the impact to specific government offices and barring coercion of social media platforms.

9/9/2023

Appeals Court Partially Lifts Injunction Barring Biden Officials from Urging Social Media to Remove False COVID and Election Claims

A federal appeals court has upheld an injunction restricting the Biden administration's communication with social media companies, claiming that the administration's efforts to flag false content about COVID-19 and elections likely violate the First Amendment.

9/14/2023

Biden Seeks Supreme Court Pause on Ruling Limiting Ability to Fight Online Misinformation

The Biden administration has asked the Supreme Court to pause a lower court's ruling that restricts their efforts to pressure social media companies to remove or suppress posts, marking a significant legal battle over online speech and government collaboration with tech companies on combating misinformation.

9/22/2023

Alito Pauses Order Limiting Biden Officials' Ability to Pressure Social Media Companies on Content Removal

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has extended the temporary block on an order that restricts President Joe Biden's administration from encouraging social media companies to remove Covid-19 misinformation, allowing more time for the court to consider the administration's request to block the injunction.

9/29/2023

Supreme Court to Decide if States Can Regulate Social Media Content Moderation

The Supreme Court will consider whether states can control how social media companies moderate content, potentially reshaping the digital public sphere and impacting free speech and democracy.

10/3/2023

Court Rules CISA Violated 1st Amendment by Encouraging Social Media Censorship of Election Posts

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) likely violated the First Amendment by pressuring social media platforms to restrict election-related content, expanding an existing injunction and potentially setting up the case for the Supreme Court.

Topics

Posted 9/8/2023, 11:48:58 PM

Court Limits Biden Admin's Ability to Urge Social Media Content Removal

Appeals court scaled back order restricting Biden administration's contact with social media about content removal
Court ruled White House, CDC, Surgeon General can't "coerce" platforms to take down posts
But court threw out broader language that blocked agencies from urging content takedowns
Lawsuit accused officials of threatening platforms over COVID, Hunter Biden, election fraud posts
Judges removed some agencies from order, said mere encouragement doesn't always violate First Amendment

politico.com

Relevant topic timeline:

8/16/2023

Republicans scrutinize Biden White House’s emails with tech platforms

9/8/2023

Appeals Court Narrows Order Blocking Biden Officials from Urging Social Media Censorship

9/9/2023

Court Rules White House, CDC Violated 1st Amendment by Pressuring Social Media Censorship

9/9/2023

Appeals Court Partially Lifts Injunction Barring Biden Officials from Urging Social Media to Remove False COVID and Election Claims

9/14/2023

Biden Seeks Supreme Court Pause on Ruling Limiting Ability to Fight Online Misinformation

9/22/2023

Alito Pauses Order Limiting Biden Officials' Ability to Pressure Social Media Companies on Content Removal

9/29/2023

Supreme Court to Decide if States Can Regulate Social Media Content Moderation

The Supreme Court will consider whether states can control how social media companies moderate content, potentially reshaping the digital public sphere and impacting free speech and democracy.

10/3/2023

Court Rules CISA Violated 1st Amendment by Encouraging Social Media Censorship of Election Posts