May 16, 2022
Internet lobby group representing top tech companies have filed an urgent petition with the U.S. Supreme court.
The motion asks the court to block a Texas law that prevents large social media companies from banning users based on their political views.
The emergency motion called on the Supreme Court to “allow the District Court’s careful reasoning to remain in effect while an orderly appellate process plays out.”
The Texas law has two key features, including a feature that prohibits social media companies with more than 50 million active users from banning members based on their political views.
The second important aspect of the law requires social media companies to publicly show how they moderate content on their platforms.
The law was signed into law in September by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, but took effect Wednesday after the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted the state’s request for a stay of a district judge’s injunction blocking the law.
U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman issued an injunction in December after Internet lobby groups NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association filed suit against the measure.
The sources for this piece include an article in Reuters.
