Supreme Court rejects accusation that Biden administration pressured social media companies to take down content

The Supreme Court dismissed claims that the Biden administration illegally pressured social media companies to remove controversial content. The court overturned an injunction that would have restricted communication between government officials and social media platforms on a range of issues. The lawsuit, filed by Republican attorneys general and social media users, alleged that government officials exerted undue influence on platforms to moderate content. The case focused on actions taken by the Biden administration in 2021, including efforts to combat misinformation about Covid and the presidential election. A Louisiana district court initially barred officials from pressuring social media companies to remove content, but the appeals court narrowed the scope of the injunction. The case is one of two before the Supreme Court involving the government’s use of persuasion, known as “jawboning,” on private parties. The other case involved the National Rifle Association’s claim that a New York official pressured companies to cut ties with the organization. Critics argue that these actions violate the First Amendment’s protection of free speech. Ultimately, the Supreme Court ruled that the plaintiffs did not have standing to sue in this case, effectively ending the legal challenge to the Biden administration’s interactions with social media companies.

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