US Department of Justice Files Appeal to Block Communications Banned between Government Officials and Social Media Companies

US Justice Department Illustration (photo: twitter @TheJusticeDept)

JAKARTA - The US Department of Justice on Monday July 10 sought to block a judge's ruling that prohibited several federal agencies and officials from communicating with social media companies regarding the moderation of content on their platforms. This decision stems from a lawsuit supported by the Republican Party against the administration of US President, Joe Biden.

The department asked the New Orleans-based US Court of Appeals, the US 5th Circuit Court, to issue a suspension of an order issued last week by Louisiana-based Judge Terry Doughty.

Federal agencies including the Department of Health and Human Services and the FBI cannot speak to social media companies "with the aim of encouraging, advocating, pressuring, or influencing in any way the removal, removal, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech," " said Doughty's verdict.

The judge's provisional injunction was a victory for the Louisiana and Missouri Republican attorneys general, who have accused the administration in unlawful lawsuits of using the COVID-19 pandemic and threats of disinformation to limit views that disagree with the government. Doughty was appointed by former Republican President Donald Trump.

The order refers to speech protected by the First Amendment to the US Constitution, which prohibits the government from exercising "restrictions on free speech."

The Department of Justice in the appeal requested a temporary suspension in the process of appeal against the judge's provisional injunction.

Doughty's order specifically names several officials including Homeland Security Minister Alejandro Mayorkas and Jen Easterly, who heads the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency.

US officials say that by contacting social media companies, they aim to reduce disinformation about America's election and COVID vaccines to prevent preventable deaths.

"Such injunctions threaten to hinder this perfectly lawful behavior and place the Judiciary in an untenable position as overseer of Executive Branch communications. It raises serious concerns about the separation of powers," said the Justice Department filing, referring to the division of powers between the executive branch. the US government, legislature, and judiciary under the Constitution.

The judge's order made several exceptions to communications between government officials and the companies, including warnings about national security risks and criminal activity.