RFK Jr. Granted Emergency Hearing in YouTube Lawsuit
Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) secured an emergency hearing on Wednesday in his lawsuit against Google, which seeks a temporary order restricting the removal of his videos from YouTube.
Facts
- Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) secured an emergency hearing on Wednesday in his lawsuit against Google, which seeks a temporary order restricting the removal of his videos from YouTube.1
- On Wednesday, RFK Jr. submitted a 27-page complaint in California alleging that YouTube — a "state actor" under pressure from Pres. Biden — violated his "First Amendment rights by engaging in viewpoint discrimination."2
- The suit claims that, unlike other social media platforms, YouTube has treated RFK Jr. differently since he became a presidential candidate. Specifically, RFK Jr's discussions regarding COVID vaccines have reportedly been removed for violating its vaccine misinformation policy.2
- Judge Nathanael Cousins of the Northern District of California scheduled the emergency hearing to address RFK Jr's request for an injunction to prevent YouTube from removing his videos for the duration of his presidential campaign.3
- Meanwhile, a YouTube spokesperson termed the lawsuit "meritless," adding that its policies against misinformation — including the rule stating that any health content posing a "serious risk of egregious harm" and contradicting health authorities will be removed — are applied without prejudice.3
Sources: 1FOX News, 2Independent, and 3The New York Sun.
Narratives
- Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Reason. It's egregious that a social media platform is removing the videos of a presidential candidate, robbing the voting public of a free and fair debate. Misinformation, in any case, is still speech and is protected under the First Amendment. The media has spread misinformation about RFK Jr's views, endorsing the silencing voices speaking out against the establishment. Big Tech should stop playing favorites and let the American public decide for themselves.
- Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Scientific American. Google, a private company, has every right to decide what can and can't be shown on its platform. While RFK Jr. is conjuring baseless conspiracies of federal meddling to make his case, misinformation has real consequences. YouTube shouldn't be obligated to give him preferential treatment simply because he is running for president. This lawsuit will undoubtedly be dismissed, as RFK Jr. has no right to force a private company to air his hateful views.
