Florida's new law prohibiting social media platforms from suspending politicians is just days old. But it's already being challenged in court by the tech industry.
By Elizabeth Culliford (Reuters) - Two tech trade groups filed a lawsuit against Florida on Thursday over a new law that would fine social media compa.
Two technology trade groups filed suit Thursday in a Tallahassee federal court against a new Florida law seeking to punish social media platforms that censor users.
A pair of technology trade groups have filed a lawsuit against a recently signed Florida law that seeks to end big tech censorship, a measure passed after a number of conservative voices were muzzled on social media networks.
Signed into law on Monday by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, SB 7072 inhibits tech companies from banning or de-platforming political candidates and news outlets from their services. The measure places heavy daily fines on offenders and opens the door to direct litigation from users.
The first state level attempt to tackle the perceived threat of political content suppression, Florida s law raises questions of constitutionality as it applies to companies rights to free speech.
Floridaâs rules on Facebook, Twitter a âfrontal assaultâ on free speech, lawsuit says
âThe act is so rife with fundamental infirmities that it appears to have been enacted without any regard for the Constitution,â asserts a lawsuit filed Thursday by two tech groups.
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The Facebook app is shown on a smart phone, Friday, April 23, 2021, in Surfside, Fla. [ WILFREDO LEE | AP ]
By Jim Saunders
Updated Yesterday
TALLAHASSEE â Describing the law as a âfrontal assault on the First Amendment,â two online industry groups filed a federal lawsuit Thursday seeking to block a measure pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to crack down on large social-media companies.