Federal Judge Blocks Government From Pressuring Social Media to Censor Protected Free Speech

Knowledge Nuggets:

• U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty grants preliminary injunction blocking federal entities from pressuring social media platforms to suppress free speech.
• The suppressed views were primarily conservative in nature, highlighting “viewpoint discrimination of political speech” by the government.
• Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey hails the injunction as a “huge win” in the fight to protect fundamental freedoms.

U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty has issued a significant ruling, granting a preliminary injunction that blocks federal government entities from pressuring social media platforms to suppress protected free speech.

This landmark ruling comes in response to allegations that the government has used its authority to violate First Amendment rights.

“If the allegations made by Plaintiffs are true, the present case arguably involves the most massive attack against free speech in United States’ history,” Judge Doughty wrote in his ruling.

The defendants are alleged to have “colluded with and/or coerced social-media platforms to suppress disfavored speakers, viewpoints, and content on social-media platforms.”

The suppressed viewpoints specifically pointed out by Judge Doughty include opposition to COVID-19 vaccines and lockdowns, the lab-leak theory of COVID-19, the validity of the 2020 election, President Biden’s policies, and the truth behind the Hunter Biden laptop story.

The conservative nature of these suppressed views, according to Doughty, showcases “viewpoint discrimination of political speech” by the government.

The case’s plaintiffs include the states of Missouri and Louisiana, Dr. Jayanta Bhattacharya, and other individuals, while defendants encompass President Joe Biden, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, various other individuals, and multiple government entities.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey celebrated the ruling on Twitter, noting, “This injunction is a huge win in the fight to defend our most fundamental freedoms. But we’re not done yet. We’re just getting started.”

This ruling serves as a potent reminder of the constitutional checks and balances system, as well as the resilience of the First Amendment amidst allegations of increasing government overreach.

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