Mississippi Senate Bill SB2278

Mississippi 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/13/23
• Refer: 1/13/23
• Failed: 1/31/23

Caption

Social media companies; require to file a report for any restriction of a candidate or elected official. Social media account.

Impact

The bill establishes a formal process for documenting and reporting restrictions, thus enhancing transparency in political communications. It defines 'candidate' and 'elected official', clarifying who is protected under this law. By requiring social media companies to report restrictions, the bill could potentially influence how these platforms develop their content moderation policies, particularly concerning political discourse. It may also lead to increased scrutiny of social media company practices regarding censorship or moderation of political content.

Summary

Senate Bill 2278 seeks to create a new section in the Mississippi Code of 1972, specifically Section 23-15-823, which would impose reporting requirements on social media companies that restrict candidates or elected officials from their platforms. The bill mandates that if a candidate or elected official is restricted, the social media company must submit a report to the Mississippi Secretary of State within three business days of the restriction. This is intended to promote transparency regarding the actions of social media platforms in restricting political figures.

Contention

The bill may raise concerns among civil liberties advocates about potential overreach into the business practices of social media platforms and the implications for free speech. Critics may argue that this legislation could pressure companies to allow harmful or false information to spread in order to avoid penalties, leading to a delicate balance between protecting political speech and maintaining community standards. Additionally, there are questions about the feasibility of such reporting requirements and how they would be enforced, which could ignite significant debate among legislators and stakeholders.