A high-stakes legal battle over Florida’s controversial social media law is reigniting after the U.S. Supreme Court returned the case to a federal judge for further review.
Industry groups NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association have filed an amended lawsuit challenging the 2021 law, which aims to regulate how social media platforms moderate content.
The law, championed by Governor Ron DeSantis, was passed after major platforms banned a former politician following the January 6th Capitol riot.
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The lawsuit argues that the law violates the First Amendment rights of social media companies by compelling them to host certain content and preventing them from removing other content, even if it is harmful or offensive.
However, the Florida Attorney General’s office has filed a motion to dismiss the amended lawsuit, arguing that it is “riddled with holes” and that the industry groups lack standing to challenge the law. The state contends that the law’s constitutionality must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, considering the specific circumstances of each social media platform.
This renewed legal clash comes as the former politician prepares to return to the White House in January after winning a second term in the recent election. The outcome of the case could have significant implications for the future of online speech and the power of social media companies to moderate content on their platforms.
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The case is scheduled for a hearing in July before U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle in Tallahassee. The judge previously issued a preliminary injunction blocking the law, but the Supreme Court has vacated that ruling and sent the case back for reconsideration.
This legal battle is being closely watched by technology companies, free speech advocates, and policymakers across the country, as it grapples with the complex intersection of technology, the First Amendment, and the role of government in regulating online speech.
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