Federal Judge Blocks Biden Administration from Contacting Social Media Companies

A federal judge in the United States has issued an injunction prohibiting President Joe Biden’s administration from contacting social media companies regarding content moderation.

Judge Terry Doughty granted the injunction in response to a complaint filed by Republican Attorneys General from Louisiana and Missouri, who argued that the government exceeded its authority by pressuring social media platforms to address inaccurate content.

Judge Doughty stated that the government’s actions to combat false statements about the COVID-19 pandemic and the election potentially constitute a significant attack on free speech, arguably the largest in US history. The judge, appointed by former President Donald Trump, had previously blocked the requirement for instructors to receive COVID-19 vaccinations in January 2022. However, the US Supreme Court largely overturned this decision.

The judge’s filing on Tuesday includes references to right-wing talking points. Republicans, who accuse the Biden administration of using the pandemic as a pretext for censorship under the guise of combating “misinformation,” view the injunction as a victory.

Republican Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri hailed the ruling as “a huge win for the First Amendment and a blow to censorship.” He alleged that the Biden administration engaged in “vast censorship enterprise” and colluded with media companies.

The United States has been engaged in an ongoing debate about the boundaries between curbing the spread of potentially harmful information online and protecting freedom of speech. Efforts to restrict false statements about the 2020 election, for instance, have sparked allegations of conservative censorship on social media platforms.

Judge Doughty’s injunction allows some exceptions, permitting government communication with social media companies regarding national security and criminal activity.