U.S. appeals court rejects big tech’s power to police internet expression

An appeals court upholds a Texas law that prevents social media companies from banning or censoring users based on “views.” Tech industry groups say the measure will turn platforms into bastions of dangerous content.

The decision leaves room for the US Supreme Court to rule on the law. Twitter, Facebook, and other social networks should treat all points of view equally, says the American Business Association. Texas law prohibits social media companies from “censoring” users based on their “views.” It allows users or the Texas Attorney General to sue to enforce the law.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton hailed the ruling on Twitter as a “huge victory for the Constitution and free speech.” Because the 5th Circuit’s ruling partially contradicts the 11th Circuit’s ruling, aggrieved parties have a stronger argument to ask the Supreme Court to hear the issue. In May, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that most similar laws in Florida violated corporations’ right to free speech.