Biden Administration Fights to Halt Ban on Social Media Company Contacts

The Biden administration has requested an emergency order to halt a ban on government agencies and officials communicating with social media companies about content moderation. The administration argues that the previous court order was overly broad and likely to be overturned on appeal. The order, issued by U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty, came in response to a lawsuit filed by Republican attorneys general and individuals who claimed that government officials coerced social media platforms to censor posts related to COVID-19 vaccines and elections. The ban prohibits agencies from pressuring social media companies to remove or suppress content protected by the First Amendment, with some exceptions. The administration has appealed the order to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.