Supreme Court Grapples with Free Speech and Social Media Cases

The Supreme Court heard arguments in two cases involving government officials blocking constituents on social media, raising questions about the limits of free speech online. The cases revolve around whether the officials were acting within the scope of their authority as government officials, or engaged in "state action," when they blocked the plaintiffs. The Court struggled to find a clear legal test to distinguish between state and private action online, with proposed sorting mechanisms and definitions of property rights proving inadequate. The difficulty in determining the boundaries of government officials' online conduct poses challenges for public officials, constituents, and the courts.