• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
The Facebook app logo is seen in this Aug. 22, 2022, illustration. The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments Feb. 26, 2024, in cases concerning the constitutionality of laws in Texas and Florida seeking to regulate how social media companies like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) moderate content posted on their sites. (OSV News illustration/Dado Ruvic, Reuters)

Justices weigh Texas, Florida laws regulating Big Tech content moderation

February 28, 2024
By Kate Scanlon
OSV News
Filed Under: Feature, News, Supreme Court, World News

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

WASHINGTON (OSV News) — The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Feb. 26 in cases challenging the constitutionality of laws in Florida and Texas that seek to limit the ability of social media companies to moderate content on their platforms.

During almost four hours of argument, the justices considered whether state governments can regulate how social media platforms moderate the content posted on their platforms in a case that could have implications for the future of online discourse.

Justices from across the ideological spectrum asked probing questions about the scope of the laws, at times expressing frustration with the lack of clarity, for instance, about even which companies are covered by the laws. Some of the justices appeared inclined to return the case to lower courts to resolve those questions.

The new logo of X (formerly Twitter), is seen in this July 24, 2023, illustration. The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments Feb. 26, 2024, in cases concerning the constitutionality of laws in Texas and Florida seeking to regulate how social media companies like X and Facebook moderate content posted on their sites. (OSV News illustration/Dado Ruvic, Reuters)

The laws passed in Florida and Texas follow allegations from some conservatives that social media companies deliberately censor right-of-center viewpoints. Those states passed laws seeking to limit ways in which social media platforms can block or remove content.

Such critics point to Twitter’s suspension of then-President Donald Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol building, during which his supporters attempted to block Congress’ certification of President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory following a nearby rally.

Twitter argued at the time that it would suspend Trump to prevent risk of further incitement to violence. Trump’s account was later restored after Elon Musk took over the company, now known as X.

Gov. Ron Desantis, R-Fla., said in a Feb. 26 video posted on X that his state’s law was aimed at protecting those who had been “deplatformed” by “Big Tech.”

“Does Big Tech have a right to just simply censor regardless of any protections for the consumer?” DeSantis said.

Eric Goldman, a law professor at the Jesuit-run Santa Clara University who filed an amicus brief in the Texas case, argued in comments shared with OSV News that the laws in question “were never serious policy proposals; instead, the legislatures simply wanted to signal to voters that they hated ‘Big Tech.'”

“The laws assembled a multitude of disparate policy ideas about how the legislatures could ‘censor’ social media platforms,” Goldman said, arguing the laws “violated the First Amendment in several ways” according to the high court’s own precedent.

“The main question is: has the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the First Amendment changed in the intervening 27 years?” he said. “If it has, legislatures can and will enact censorship laws that will completely change how the Internet works.”

Goldman noted the justices appeared at times “baffled” by “the indeterminacy of who the law reaches and which functions are regulated,” leaving them unclear about the law’s scope.

However, Goldman said even if the court rules “decisively” for the tech industry on every issue, the justices’ opinion “will surely contain caveats and hypotheticals that will inspire regulators to make further attempts to censor the Internet.”

A decision by the court is expected prior to the end of its current term, which typically ends in June.

Read More Supreme Court

Supreme Court rules states can deny Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood

Supreme Court upholds Tennessee’s gender transition ban for minors

Supreme Court takes up appeal from N.J. faith-based pregnancy centers

‘Public’ does not equal ‘state’ or ‘government’

High court sends Catholic groups’ challenge to N.Y. abortion-coverage mandate back to state courts

Supreme Court rules in favor of Wisconsin Catholic agency over religious exemption

Copyright © 2024 OSV News

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Kate Scanlon

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • 3 North Americans named to Vatican dicasteries for ecumenism, interreligious dialogue

  • Archbishop Lori announces clergy appointments, including pastor and associate pastors

  • St. Mary’s purchases former Annapolis Area Christian School

  • Pope’s prayer intention for July: That the faithful might again learn how to discern

  • superman Movie Review: Superman

| Latest Local News |

Father Herman Benedict Czaster, former Curley teacher, dies at 86

Loyola University Maryland graduate ordained Jesuit priest

Sister Ann Belz dies at 88

Archbishop Lori announces clergy appointments, including pastor and associate pastors

DUAL ENROLLMENT

Double the learning: Dual enrollment provides college credit to high school students

| Latest World News |

Judge blocks Trump birthright citizenship order as part of class action lawsuit

Ukraine religious leaders issue ‘desperate cry’ to world to end Russia’s war

care of creation

Pope Leo wears Chicago-made vestments to July 9 ‘care of creation’ Mass

ICE

ICE deports Iowa parishioner to Guatemala homeland as supporters pray for his release

French woman hopes sharing mystical encounter with Minnesota Benedictine helps sainthood cause

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • A Gift and a Connection to the Past
  • Father Herman Benedict Czaster, former Curley teacher, dies at 86
  • Loyola University Maryland graduate ordained Jesuit priest
  • Sister Ann Belz dies at 88
  • Expert discusses serious harms of smartphones for children and how to limit their use
  • Movie Review: Superman
  • Judge blocks Trump birthright citizenship order as part of class action lawsuit
  • Ukraine religious leaders issue ‘desperate cry’ to world to end Russia’s war
  • Pope Leo wears Chicago-made vestments to July 9 ‘care of creation’ Mass

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en