02/27/2024

SCOTUS Torn over Laws Regulating Social Media Companies

The laws were challenged by tech industry trade groups

Monday, the justices of the Supreme Court of the United States expressed reservations about Republican-backed laws in Florida and Texas meant to restrict the power of social media companies to curb content that the platforms deem objectionable, but signaled they may not be ready to block them in their entirety.

During nearly four hours of arguments in the cases, the justices expressed concern that the laws could undermine the editorial discretion of the platforms in violation of free speech protections. But they also indicated they might permit the laws to regulate certain non-expressive internet services such as the provision of email, direct messaging or car-sharing.

The laws were challenged by tech industry trade groups NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association, whose members include Facebook parent Meta Alphabet's Google, which owns YouTube, as well as TikTok and Snapchat owner Snap. Neither law has taken effect.

Please select this link to read the complete article from Reuters.