Judge Limits Biden Officials Contact With Social Media Firms

Facts

• In a ruling made public Tuesday, a federal judge barred various agencies and officials of the Biden administration from meeting with or contacting social media companies about content moderation.¹
• The ruling is part of an ongoing suit brought by Republican attorneys general of Louisiana and Missouri, who allege that the administration engaged in a widespread censorship campaign related to COVID and other matters.²
• The ruling — issued by Louisiana US District Court Judge Terry Doughty — affects numerous federal officials and agencies, including Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, and all employees of the Justice Department and FBI.³
• The White House said the Dept. of Justice is reviewing the court's injunction and will evaluate its options.⁴
• Doughty said contact could be made if necessary for informing social media companies of postings involving criminal activity and conspiracies, and notifying them of national security or other threats posted on their platforms.⁵

Sources: ¹Reuters, ²Axios, ³POLITICO, ⁴Associated Press, and ⁵EL PAÍS English.

Narratives

• Republican narrative, as provided by Breitbart. This is a huge win for free speech and a blow to censorship. The Biden administration assumed the role of an “Orwellian Ministry of Truth” by orchestrating a far-reaching censorship campaign during the COVID pandemic. The government should never be able to censor ordinary Americans on social media.
• Democratic narrative, as provided by Washington Post. The judge is putting US security at risk with this ruling. The government and social media companies have been coordinating to address criminal activity – including sexual abuse images, terrorism, COVID disinformation, and Russian election interference – for years, and breaking up this communication will only harm the nation under the false pretense of protecting the First Amendment.