US Supreme Court Listens To Arguments About Social Media Content And Freedom Of Speech

Illustration of the US Supreme Court (photo: x @just_security ·)

JAKARTA - The US Supreme Court on Monday 18 March listened to arguments in another battle about the moderation of social media content - a challenge on the basis of freedom of speech to how US President Joe Biden's administration prompted the platform to remove posts deemed by federal officials as misinformation, including about elections and COVID-19.

Pemerintah Biden mengajukan adanya atas injunsi sementara pengadilan yang membatkan bagaimana Gedung Putih dan pejabat federal lainnya berkomunikasi dengan platform media sosial.

States led by the Republics of Missouri and Louisiana, along with five individual social media users, are suing the government. They argue that the government's actions violate the right to speak freely as in the First Amendment to the US Constitution. Especially for users whose posts are removed from platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

The Biden administration argues that officials are seeking to reduce the dangers of online misinformation, including false information about vaccines during the pandemic that is said to have led to preventable deaths, by informing social media companies about content that violates their own platform policies.

Justice Department attorney Brian Fletcher told judges the government should not use forced threats to press a speech, but "he has the right to speak for himself" by providing information, persuading, or criticizing private speakers.

Plaintiffs argued that the platform suppressed its conservative-leaning speech, which they attribute to government coercion, a form of state action banned by the First Amendment.

The Supreme Court is expected to issue a decision by the end of June.