Florida Gov. Ron DeSantissigned a law Monday that gives the state the power to punish social media companies that ban political candidates from using their platforms (deplatforming). DeSantis had proposed the bill several months ago.
See also: Ron DeSantis declares war on Big Tech
The law banning “deplatforming” is the first of its kind in Florida. Other states may follow DeSantis’ lead, although a tech business group said the law violates the First Amendment.
DeSantis celebrated the new law, saying it was a blow against “Silicon Valley elites” who seek to censor conservative political views.
“ What we are seeing across the United States is an attempt to intimidate and eliminate dissent by left-wing media and big corporations ,” DeSantis said
However, social media research often shows the opposite: that conservative politicians and their sites can be so effective on social media that they rank high on Facebook. Facebook has also relaxed its rules so that conservative pages are not penalized for violations.
Facebook , Twitter , YouTube and other major social media platforms blocked Trump shortly after his supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. The platforms took this action because Trump violated the terms of service that users agree to when they sign up, including terms that prohibit promoting violence.
See also: Attack on the Capitol: Espionage, theft of computers and data
Florida's new deplatforming law says social media companies cannot permanently "delete or block" a candidate for office. It allows for account suspensions of up to 14 days and the removal of individual posts that violate terms of service.
If social media platforms are found to be violating the new law, the state can impose a fine of $250,000 per day for deplatforming state-level candidates and $25,000 per day for other candidates.
See also: Social media: They are being asked to remove content about the “Indian variant” of COVID-19
A similar proposal is also being discussed by Texas lawmakers.
Carl Szabo, vice president and general counsel of NetChoice, said the law could force platforms to take down posts that include violence or other harmful content.
“This bill brings us closer to a state-owned Internet where the government can pick winners and losers,” he said in a statement. “The First Amendment prohibits the government from coercing or controlling speech on private sites,” he added.
Matt Schruers, president of the Computer & Communications Industry Association , also said the law is “unconstitutional.”
Source: NBC News
