The Supreme Court can finally stop government officials from coercing Big Tech into censoring political opponents’ speech. Multiple cases are currently pending before the Court that give the justices the opportunity to definitively rule in favor of free speech.
On Monday, the Court heard oral arguments in the landmark case Murthy v. Missouri.
The Center for American Liberty filed an amicus brief in Murthy. That brief can be read here.
This case is the culmination of a disturbing, growing trend of Big Government colluding with Big Tech to censor free speech online—on the modern public square. The White House claimed its goal was to curb “disinformation” when various Biden Administration departments and officials pressured social media companies to remove disfavored speech on their platforms. The White House targeted everything from challenging the efficacy of the COVID vaccines to election fraud for censorship. They even targeted a parody account making fun of a Biden family member.
The Biden Administration knew it couldn’t legally shut down this speech itself, so they strongarmed social media companies into doing their dirty work for them.
There’s just one problem: this “strong encouragement” by the government is still government censorship.
In July, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction preventing the Biden Administration from continuing this illegal collusion with Big Tech. This was a huge win for free speech, and now the Supreme Court will decide if that victory stands.
The Court must put an end to government censorship disguised as “protecting” Americans from vague undefined concepts like “misinformation.” This naked attempt to control what information the American people are allowed to consume, and ultimately believe, is antithetical to core First Amendment protections designed to foster a marketplace of ideas where the best ideas rise to the top.
The Court’s ruling in Murthy will have huge implications for Rogan O’Handley’s case.
Just like the plaintiffs in Murthy v. Missouri, Rogan O’Handley was the victim of government censorship being carried out by Big Tech. When Rogan expressed concerns over the 2020 election on Twitter, the California Office of Election Cybersecurity targeted him. Leftist government operatives flagged Rogan’s tweets, and Twitter permanently suspended his account.
So, he took them to court.
Today Rogan’s case is also at the Supreme Court awaiting a decision on certiorari. But whether it is for Rogan or for any other American, the First Amendment must be protected. “Misinformation” is defeated by more speech, not by censorship.
We must stop Big Tech collusion with Big Government to censor free speech.
Support this important case today and preserve liberty for tomorrow!