ReOpen Illinois is celebrating a recent ruling by a federal judge that disallows the Biden administration from censoring Americans on social media.
The injunction notes the scheme deprived Americans of their First Amendment rights.
“Judge delivers blow to Biden Admin saying Biden likely violated first amendment rights during Covid-19 pandemic, by working with Facebook, Meta, Google, etc to stifle free speech,” ReOpen Illinois said on Facebook.
The comments come as a federal judge in Louisiana issued an injunction temporarily preventing White House officials, including some of President Joe Biden's Cabinet members, from meeting with tech companies regarding social media censorship. The injunction blocks over 40 administration officials from communicating with major tech companies, alleging collaboration to suppress speech.
“If the allegations made by Plaintiffs are true, the present case arguably involves the most massive attack against free speech in United States’ history,” Louisiana District Judge Terry A. Doughty wrote. "In their attempts to suppress alleged disinformation, the federal government, and particularly the defendants named here, are alleged to have blatantly ignored the First Amendment’s right to free speech.”
The judge argued that such actions in the past likely violated the First Amendment. The injunction was issued in response to lawsuits filed by the attorneys general of Louisiana and Missouri, alleging that the White House coerced tech companies to suppress free speech during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lawsuits named Google, Meta (formerly Facebook), and Twitter as defendants. The judge's ruling states that the government's actions "likely violate the Free Speech Clause" and criticizes the government for assuming a role similar to an "Orwellian 'Ministry of Truth,'" according to Fox News.
The injunction suggests that the alleged censorship primarily targeted conservative speech but emphasizes that the issues raised go beyond party lines. The ruling could significantly limit future interactions between tech companies and government officials unless related to national security threats or criminal matters on social media. The injunction was welcomed by the attorneys general of Missouri and Louisiana, who see it as a victory for free speech.
The Washington Examiner notes the Biden administration remains undeterred in its social media policy despite the preliminary injunction. While the Department of Justice plans to appeal the decision, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre maintains that responsible actions will continue to be promoted for public health and safety. The case is expected to reach the Supreme Court, with the ruling potentially impacting the government's interactions with Big Tech and its efforts against misinformation.