Posted on 05/01/2021 6:51:51 AM PDT by RandFan
The Florida House and Senate voted this week to pass legislation that would prohibit social media companies from banning politicians.
Fines for social media companies that try to ban politicians from their platforms could add up to $250,000 a day for statewide politicians and $25,000 a day for other elected officials, the Sun-Sentinel reported.
The bill, which still allows for politicians to be suspended for two weeks and for individual posts to be taken down if they violate the company’s policies, is now headed to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Opponents argue the measure is unconstitutional and that Republicans are only advancing it because former President Trump was banned from multiple social media platforms after he continued to spread false election conspiracy theories after the deadly Capitol riot.
"Stop inciting insurrection against our republic. We're hearing this bill because Twitter finally deplatformed former President Trump after five people were killed in an insurrection he incited at the U.S. Capitol,” state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith (D) said during debate on S.B. 7072, NBC News reported.
“This bill is not about President Trump,” Rep. John Snyder (R) countered. “This bill is about the 22 million Floridians and their First Amendment rights.”
Net Choice, a trade group for internet companies, said during a hearing for the bill that the companies' free speech rights were being violated.
"The First Amendment makes clear that government may not regulate the speech of private individuals or businesses. This includes government action that compels speech by forcing a private social media platform to carry content that is against its policies or preferences,” NetChoice President Steve DelBianco said.
DeSantis has previously spoken highly of the bill and is expected to sign it.
Let’s see, you lying punk Guierrmo, one person was assassinated by police, and four others died of natural causes. YOUR statement of lies should get you removed from office forcibly. Talk about inciting violence!
If the law would only protect politicians, the law is going to get tossed.
Not enough. Zuckerberg could have banned Trump for the last 2 months of the campaign under this law and it would have only been $15 million in fines. Pocket change for him.
[snip] Evelyn Beatrice Hall (28 September 1868 – 13 April 1956),[1][2][3][Note 1] who wrote under the pseudonym S. G. Tallentyre, was an English writer best known for her biography of Voltaire entitled The Life of Voltaire, first published in 1903. She also wrote The Friends of Voltaire, which she completed in 1906.
In The Friends of Voltaire, Hall wrote the phrase: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”[4] as an illustration of Voltaire’s beliefs.[5] This quotation – which is sometimes misattributed to Voltaire himself – is often cited to describe the principle of freedom of speech. [/snip]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evelyn_Beatrice_Hall
So FacePlant bans Trump for a while and the State of Florida sends a bill for the fine to Phuckerberg. How does one collect? The invoice was probably put through the shredder upon receipt.
Politicians pass laws that favor themselves. Personally, I don’t give two shits about what most politicians have to say. It is way more important that politicians listen to what the people have to say. We do not need another protected class of people in America called politicians.
My first thought as well. Does the phrase "equal protection under the law" mean anything these days? Why should the political class get more consideration than everyone else? Never mind that they already do.
A gets fined $250,000 dollars a day for each day it bans someone running for office in Florida.
Can someone clarify what would prevent someone doing this:
1) Sign up to run as dog catcher in Podunk, FL
2) Post liberal crud on FreeRepublic and gets zotted
3) Sues FR
Love this. A few points. First, the bill is not blocking speech, it is blocking discrimination against free speech. Unless you are willing to publically say you are partisan, you should not block speech by someone you disagree with. All or none, no picking and choosing. 2ndly, the bit about “compelling speech” is hilariously disingenuous. In Canada and other places (e.g., NYC) you are compelled to address someone by any “gender” descriptor they choose. That is the issue that launched Jordan Peterson in his jihad against government attack on free speech. If this outfit is saying that the bill is wrong on this count, where are they taking a position on gender Nazis? Last, in the EU assorted authorities adre fining outfits like FB for discrimination. If it is OK in Europe, why not Florida? Fine them into oblivion. Either respect the laws of the areas in which you do business or get out.
Yup.
Yep. This again only proves that politicians only care about their clans. Does this apply to FR?
“If the law would only protect politicians, the law is going to get tossed.”
By whom? The rule of law is becoming increasingly irrelevant.
Exactly.
Being able to force ANY website to publish ANY politicians views means it will be weaponized against sites just like this one.
Floriduh!
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