The podcast discusses how the White House, FBI, and CDC violated the First Amendment by pressuring social media platforms to censor Covid-related posts. It explores the wide range of government agencies involved in content moderation and the suppression of true speech. The Fifth Circuit ruling on SISA's engagement with nonprofits and government hit lists is also highlighted. The negative impact of White House censorship on health, well-being, and free speech is discussed.
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Quick takeaways
The recent ruling by the Fifth Circuit Court determined that the White House, FBI, and CDC likely violated the First Amendment by pressuring social media platforms to censor COVID-related posts.
The involvement of federal agencies, prominent scientists facing harassment, and the erosion of free speech highlight the significant impact of the government's actions on scientific discussion and dissent.
Deep dives
White House, FBI, and CDC Violated First Amendment through Social Media Censorship
The recent ruling by the Fifth Circuit Court has determined that the White House, FBI, and CDC likely violated the First Amendment by pressuring social media platforms to censor COVID-related posts. The Biden administration is now prohibited from communicating with platforms like Facebook and Twitter. The ruling is currently being appealed to the Supreme Court. The evidence presented in the Missouri v. Biden case demonstrated a pattern of threats by the White House towards social media companies, coercing them to remove posts and suppress information that contradicted the government's pandemic policies, even if the statements were true. The court compared the White House's actions to those of the mob, highlighting the significant deviation from the American commitment to free speech.
Extensive Government Involvement in Content Moderation
The lawsuit revealed an extensive list of federal agencies involved in the censorship efforts, including the White House, FBI, and State Department. This broad government effort to suppress speech, both true and false, raised concerns about the erosion of the First Amendment's protection of free speech. The government's aim was to silence opposition, destroy the reputations of critics, and ultimately stifle scientific discussion and dissent. The involvement of prominent scientists faced with online harassment and death threats underscored the chilling effect of the government's actions on the scientific community.
Fifth Circuit Ruling and the Implications of Continued Content Moderation
While the Fifth Circuit narrowed the scope of the district court's injunction, allowing some content flagging by the Department of Homeland Security's CISA, concerns remain. Nonprofits engaged by CISA, funded by the government, identify and label information as misinformation, even if it is true. The government's ability to generate hit lists and launder defamation through these organizations compromises free speech principles. Legislation or further legal actions are needed to address these issues and prevent government interference in determining who can speak online. Nevertheless, the ruling prevents the government from directly pressuring companies to remove content, giving platforms the ability to reject government demands for censorship.
The Fifth Circuit Court ruled that the White House, the FBI, and the CDC likely violated the First Amendment when they pressured social media companies to censor posts related to Covid. Now one of the plaintiffs in Missouri v. Biden discusses the case and its journey to the Supreme Court. Get the facts first on Morning Wire.
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