Florida empowers citizens to fight Big Tech censorship

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has just given the people of his state the power to fight back against Social Media censorship.

The Governor recently signed into law Senate Bill 7072 that will allow people of his state to sue Big Tech, if they unfairly censor a person’s post or ban a person’s account.

The legislation will come in effect on July 1, 2021.

Under the legislation, private citizens and the state’s Attorney General can sue Big Tech for up to $100,000 if it unfairly censors or throttles posts of people speaking their personal opinions.

It will also subject the social media companies to fines of between $25,000 or $250,000 a day if they ban an account of a political figure. The fine varies depending on if the person is running at a local or state level.

At the news conference where the bill was signed into law, DeSantis said:

“Some of these massive, massive companies in Silicon Valley are exerting a power over our population that really has no precedent in American history. One of their major missions seems to be suppressing ideas.

“If Big Tech censors enforce rules inconsistently, to discriminate in favor of the dominant Silicon Valley ideology, they will now be held accountable,”

The bill was opposed by state Democrats, and it is expected that Big Tech will challenge this infringement on their ability to censor posts in court.

READ: ‘They Will Now Be Held Accountable’: DeSantis Signs Crackdown Bill Against Big Tech Giants

Florida is the first state to hold Big Tech accountable by requiring social media platforms to publish detailed standards and to apply them fairly. Social media companies will no longer be able to hide behind vague language as to why they censored a Floridian’s post. pic.twitter.com/lt3uPK1EsI
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 25, 2021

The Florida Attorney General can bring action against tech companies that violate the Big Tech law, and if found guilty of violating Florida's antitrust law, can be blacklisted from contracting with any public entity.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 25, 2021