Court lets Texas restrictions on internet moderation take effect

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Acontroversial Texas social media law will take effect following a ruling today from a US appeals court. The law allows Paxton’s office or Texas residents to sue social networks that moderate based on “the viewpoint of the user or another person,” among other offenses — language that potentially makes basic moderation decisions legally risky. Opponents of the law managed to block HB 20 in court last year, but this victory has been undone by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which today granted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s request for a stay in NetChoice and CCIA v. Paxton.

The ruling follows a confusing hearing where a Fifth Circuit judge claimed web services like Twitter “are not websites” and compared them to phone companies like Verizon, which are governed under common carrier law. NetChoice and the CCIA can choose to mount an emergency appeal, but without quick intervention from a higher level like the Supreme Court, the law is now in force.

“In an unusual and unfortunate move, a split 2-1 Fifth Circuit panel lifted the injunction without ruling on the merits and without issuing an opinion explaining the order. Because HB 20 is constitutionally rotten through and through, we are weighing our options and plan to appeal the order immediately,” said Carl Szabo, vice president and general counsel of NetChoice.

“We are weighing our options and plan to appeal the order immediately”
HB 20 covers web services that have more than 50 million active monthly users and rely primarily on user-generated content. That includes giant networks like Facebook but also many smaller sites and apps. It also applies rules specifically to email providers. It’s an unprecedented decision to let state governments control how companies moderate websites. It conflicts with a different circuit’s decision to block a similar law in Florida, potentially setting up a Supreme Court fight over moderation — which some justices seem eager to take on.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/court-lets-texas-restrictions-on-internet-moderation-take-effect/ar-AAXaAHW

[ruet]

1. Sounds Like A Fantastic Business Opportunity.

Set up an office in Texas. Post filth on social media sites. Have the posts banned. Profit.

On a more serious note; these fumb ducks have no idea WTF they're doing.

[Javaman]

2. Never ever under estimate them, you do so at your own peril

They have been quietly and not so quietly appointing lifetime judges to the bench for decades

They know exactly what they are doing