Texas to Allow Citizens to Sue Social Media Companies

Technology

September 7th, 7:19am

Dallas - London - Asharq Al-Awsat

Several apps are displayed on an iPhone on March 1, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Richard Drew

Texas is close to creating a law that would allow residents to sue Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or other social media companies if they've been banned from the platforms for their political views. The bill has passed the state's legislature. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to sign it, according to USA Today. It's similar to a Florida law that was blocked by a federal judge in June one day before it took effect, reported the CNET website. According to the German News Agency, US District Judge Robert Hinkle said the law was too broadly written and found that promoting one viewpoint while restricting another isn't a legitimate state interest. The bills surfaced after the high-profile banning of President Donald Trump on Twitter and Facebook after the deadly Jan. 6 riot on Capitol Hill. Some conservatives argue that the social media companies censor content for ideological reasons -- a claim repeatedly denied by the companies.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3175266/texas-allow-citizens-sue-social-media-companies