Wisconsin Republicans are backing state bills to allow censored social media users to sue platforms for damages, in an attempt to target online censorship.
Two Republican-backed bills in the Wisconsin state Assembly would “prohibit social media platforms from censoring, deplatforming or shadow banning (hiding) certain content,” reported Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR). The bills also allow censored users to sue social media companies for damages. “‘That’s how you change business behavior, you make it hurt in the pocketbook,’ said Rep. Cody Horlacher R-Mukwonago,” according to WPR.
Wisconsin Democrat Rep. Gary Hebl (D-Sun Prairie) opposed the bills and reportedly claimed at an Assembly Committee on Constitution and Ethics public hearing that less online censorship allows dangerous “alternative facts” online. “If we could have had social media rely on factual rather than alternative facts, Jan. 6 may never have occurred,” Hebl reportedly asserted. “I don’t know what Jan. 6 has to do with this bill,” Horlacher replied.
Unsurprisingly, WPR, an affiliate of liberal National Public Radio, made concern over Jan. 6 and so-called “misinformation” a central point in its piece.
Bill author Rep. Shae Sortwell (R-Two Rivers) reportedly explained at the hearing, “Americans, including journalistic enterprises, are increasingly finding that their speech is being blocked, being hidden, being subverted by the very public forums that they use most often to communicate.”
The two proposed bills have slightly different targets, although both allow tech companies to be sued for censorship. WPR summarized that Assembly Bill 589 would prevent censorship of “media enterprises” based on their broadcast or publication content. WPR also described another Wisconsin bill under consideration:
“Assembly Bill 530 would prevent the censorship of posts by or about political candidates and elected officials. The bill would also ban ‘post prioritization’ (pushing certain posts higher or lower on a feed) and would require social media companies to publish their moderation standards and notify users of any attempt to censor their content.”
Rep. Elijah Behnke (R-Oconto) reportedly said at the hearing that Facebook had censored him for sharing information on a vaccine mandate protest rally that very morning. Shotwell and Horlacher cited Florida and Idaho legislation as models for their proposed bills.
Other states have taken aim at Big Tech censorship too. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a similar free speech bill into law in May. Ten other states were supporting the Florida law in September. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) also signed a law protecting online free speech in September. Iowa Republicans introduced a state bill in March to discourage online censorship.
Conservatives are under attack. Contact your representatives and demand that Big Tech be held to account to mirror the First Amendment while providing transparency, clarity on “hate speech” and equal footing for conservatives. If you have been censored, contact us at the Media Research Center contact form, and help us hold Big Tech accountable.
