Texas is poised to punish social media companies for alleged censorship of political views after the state Senate passed House Bill 20 on a mostly party line vote of 17-14.
Republican state Sen. Bryan Hughes of Mineola, the Senate sponsor, argued that social media platforms are, in effect, common carriers — like phone companies and cable carriers _ and should be treated as such from the standpoint of the First Amendment.
"The cable company cannot deny you service based on your religion," Hughes said on the Senate floor Tuesday. "Your cell phone provider doesn't cut you off because of your politics."
The GOP-backed bill is a response to Twitter and Facebook shutting down accounts like former President Donald Trump’s, and Democrats have accused Republicans of trying to punish social media companies that have removed conservatives from their platforms.
Similar legislation was passed in Florida, but a judge later blocked its implementation.
Hughes dismissed criticism that the law was partisan, pointing to an instance in which Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren had an ad targeting social media platforms over free speech removed, though it was later reinstated.
The heart of the bill is a section that would allow users banned by social media to sue for reinstatement if banned by a social media site based on political views. If that person can’t find a private attorney, the attorney general may bring a suit on the person’s behalf.
"For the first time, Texas will have some...
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