Censorship of social media; creating cause of action for censorship of certain speech. Effective date.
If SB1862 is enacted, it would create a legal framework wherein social media websites can be held liable for censoring a user's political or religious speech. The law stipulates that damages for wrongful censorship can reach up to $75,000 for each action deemed to be in violation, alongside the possibility of actual damages and punitive damages. This bill would significantly alter how social media companies handle content moderation, particularly regarding political and religious expressions.
SB1862 seeks to address concerns regarding the censorship of political and religious speech on social media platforms. The bill defines key terms such as 'political speech', 'religious speech', and outlines specific actions that may lead to legal consequences for social media websites that engage in the deletion or suppression of such speech. It asserts that users over the age of eighteen have the standing to bring a cause of action against these platforms if they believe their speech has been wrongfully censored.
The proposed legislation has raised significant contention regarding definitions of censorship, user rights, and the implications for social media platforms. Critics argue that the bill could limit the ability of these platforms to manage harmful or misleading content, as it prohibits using allegations of 'hate speech' as a defense in court. Supporters argue the bill is necessary to protect the free speech rights of individuals, particularly in a political context, thereby creating a more open environment for discourse online.