(DailyVantage.com) – The debate around free speech, particularly on social media, has raged for years now. In September, Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) passed HB 20, a measure to prevent social media companies from censoring users for their political views. Unfortunately, on December 1, a judge blocked the bill a day before it was to take effect.
Judge Robert Pitman of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas ruled HB 20 violated the First Amendment. He wrote in his ruling social media platforms have the right to moderate content on their platforms. However, he also called out the bill for being “prohibitively vague.”
Federal judge blocks Texas law that would stop social media firms from banning users for a 'viewpoint' https://t.co/64w2Z55E1R
— Laredo Morning Times (@lmtnews) December 2, 2021
Judge Pitman’s order resulted from a legal challenge brought by NetChoice and the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA), two organizations that fought against HB 20’s stipulations. The organizations argued Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act protected them. The code is a controversial law that lawmakers — even President Joe Biden — have called into question numerous times.
While the two organizations celebrated, people on the Right were understandably upset. After all, they claim social media sites have a bias against Conservatives — and all one has to do is take a look at Big Tech’s swift removal of Donald Trump and the censorship of other prominent figures on the Right to see there’s clearly a trend. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be one that’ll be ending anytime soon.
What do you think? Should individual rights, such as speaking your political beliefs, be protected from censorship? Reply to your email and let us know. We’d love to hear what you think.
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