Breaking down the Supreme Court's Murthy v. Missouri decision
Jun 27, 2024
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Legal expert Alex Abdo from the Knight First Amendment Institute discusses the Supreme Court's decision in Murthy v. Missouri, addressing government influence on social media content moderation, implications for online speech leading up to the 2024 election, notable dissents, and the potential impact on government-platform relations.
The Supreme Court's decision in Murthy v. Missouri dismissed claims of government pressuring platforms to censor speech.
The ruling highlighted uncertainty on distinguishing between acceptable persuasion and unconstitutional coercion in online speech regulation.
Deep dives
Supreme Court Ruling on Murthy v. Missouri
In Murthy v. Missouri, the Supreme Court dismissed claims of the Biden administration pressuring platforms to censor speech. A 6-3 decision ruled that two states and five individuals lacked legal standing to sue over claims of coercing platforms to remove COVID-19 and election misinformation. Conservatives criticized the decision, using it to rally for action in Congress.
Implications of the Supreme Court Decision
The court's ruling in Murthy v. Missouri was seen as a vindication for the administration, indicating skepticism towards claims of a censorship scheme. However, uncertainty remains on the implications for future government actions on misinformation. The decision didn't offer clear guidance on differentiating between constitutionally acceptable persuasion and unconstitutional coercion.
Potential Impact on Future Government Outreach
The dissent in Murthy v. Missouri, particularly by conservative justices, expressed concerns about the government's role in pressuring platforms. Future executive branch outreach to platforms may face scrutiny under similar constitutional considerations. The need for clearer rules to prevent government coercion of speech intermediaries was underscored, especially in the context of ongoing political pressure campaigns.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Biden administration in Missouri v. Biden, a case about government influence on social media content moderation. Guest host Rebecca Kern called Alex Abdo at the Knight First Amendment Institute to discuss the court's 6-3 decision and its potential implications for online speech as we approach the 2024 election.