Court Case
Biden administration has been accused of moderating social media companies. Which is a violation of their first amendment right, freedom of speech. This court case took place in Louisiana ruled U.S. District Court Judge Terry Doughty. A judge that was appointed by Donald Trump.
On July 4, 2023, Judge Doughty issued a preliminary injunction. This injunction limits the contact that Biden officials have with social media firms. The social media firms are Alphabet Inc, Meta Platforms Inc, United States of America. The injunction has exceptions including: warnings about national security threats, criminal activity, or voters suppression.
The Biden officials that have been restricted from contacting with Social Media firms include the following. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.
Ruling
The ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Doughty is 155 pages long. Republicans are the main ones accusing Biden officials of suppressing topics, specifically conservative topics. This injunction came from a response to a lawsuit in 2022 by Louisiana and Missouri general attorneys Eric Schmitt and Jeff Landry.
Accusing Biden officials of trying to change or edit information about COVID-19. Specifically, information that did not align with their views or opinions. Information about the virus and vaccine could sway people’s opinions on getting the vaccine.
One individual who feels they were wrongly censored is Jim Hoft. He is an owner and operator of a conservative website called the Gateway Pundit. On his website, he made comments about viruses, vaccines, and mail-in ballots. Another individual is Jill Hines, who says she was censored because she disapproves of the mask mandate for children.
The Department of Justice put in a request to temporarily pause the limit on the contact that Biden officials have with Social Media firms. However, the judge rejected this request in a 13-page ruling. The limit only the contact only prevents illegal contact. Contact that suggests, urges, pressures, removes, or reduction of information would fall under things that officially are not legal to do with social media platforms.
On the date of July 10, 2023, the government filed an emergency motion for a stay in the Fifth Circuit, a preliminary injunction that is pending approval. On July 14, 2023, the next available date for an oral argument will expedite because the Fifth Circuit entered a temporary administrative.
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Alphabet, YouTube, WhatsApp, WeChat, TikTok, and Google did not respond to requests for comment.
Social Media
Joe Biden himself has an Instagram account, an X account (formerly Twitter), and a Facebook account. Joe Biden has not posted on his personal X account since January 20, 2021. But on his official X account, Biden has not posted since May 31, 2022. Joe Biden posts frequently on Instagram where he posts about health care, team Biden-Harris lapping the Republican field, and manufacturing. Additionally, on Facebook, Joe Biden posts similar things as on Instagram, sometimes even the exact same post.
COVID-19 first entered the U.S. around January 2020. Around that time, Biden posted on Instagram about making coronavirus tests and vaccines free and available to everyone. Another post insisted that states do not have enough tests, hospitals do not have enough ventilators, and healthcare workers do not have enough masks.
During the pandemic, Biden constantly stressed the importance of wearing a mask. Biden also tweeted to remind Americans to wear a mask, wash their hands, and social distance. Furthermore, on November 9, 2020, Biden tweeted from his personal Twitter, “The bottom line: I will spare no effort to turn this pandemic around”. Biden signed an executive order to issue a mask mandate on federal property.
By: Brynn Walker
Sources:
BBC News: Biden Officials must limit contact with social media firms
The New York Times: Social Media Restrictions on Biden Officials Are Paused in Appeal
Politico: Judge limits Biden administration contact with social media firms
CNBC: U.S. judge restricts Biden officials from contact with social media firms
Politico: Appeals court temporarily blocks order that restricted feds’ contact with social media firms
The Washington Post: Judge blocks U.S. officials from tech contacts in First Amendment case
CBS News: Judge rejects Justice Department’s request to pause order limiting Biden administration’s contact with social media companies
The Federalist Society: Missouri v. Biden: The Crossroads Between Misinformation and Free Speech
Instagram: @joebiden
Featured image courtesy of Mr.TinMD’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset image courtesy of Virginia Guard Public Affairs’ Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
