SCOTUS Asked to Overturn Texas Social Media Law

The White House requested that the Supreme Court overturn a lower court's ruling to uphold a Texas social media law, The Hill reported.

Conflicting decisions from circuit courts over similar laws in Texas and Florida, states controlled by Republicans, justify a review by the Supreme Court, Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar wrote in a brief.

The laws passed by Texas and Florida prohibit social media companies from banning users due to political views and would constrain them from moderating content and users, even if they violate the company's terms and conditions.

Prelogar said the court should reverse the 5th Circuit court's decision to uphold the Texas law, because the companies have First Amendment protections to decide on content moderation as they deem fit. 

Since the 11th Circuit ruled to block Florida's similar law, the conflicting opinions set the cases up to be heard by the Supreme Court.

The Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA) and NetChoice, tech industry groups, are leading cases against the laws and requested that the Supreme Court hear them, according to The Hill.

CCIA President Matt Schruers said in a statement the group is "glad to see the solicitor general confirm the importance of the First Amendment issues raised by these state laws." 

Schruers added that "this is exactly the sort of case we would expect the Supreme Court to take up, because it involves a key Constitutional issue and split appellate court decisions." 

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