Taylor Lorenz’s Power User They're trying to ban posting about abortion online
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May 15, 2025 Jennifer Pinsof, Senior Staff Attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, dives into the chilling implications of Texas's proposed HB 5510, which seeks to criminalize online discussions about abortion. She explains how this law could severely restrict access to crucial reproductive health information and create a culture of fear among those sharing knowledge. Jennifer also discusses the broader implications for free speech and digital rights, highlighting the risks of increased censorship and the urgent need for advocacy to protect online discourse.
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Broad Censorship of Abortion Speech
- Texas bill HB 5510 criminalizes online speech about abortion, including emails, posts, and private messages.
- It targets almost every way abortion information can be shared online, severely restricting access to vital health information.
Bounty System Chills Speech
- The bill creates a bounty system encouraging private citizens to sue those sharing abortion info for at least $100,000 per violation.
- This deputizes people to surveil each other and creates a chilling effect on speech.
Platforms Face Liability for Content
- The bill targets not just speakers but also platforms and services hosting abortion-related content.
- Platforms face liability unless they promptly remove such content, incentivizing over-censorship.
