Facebook, Google’s YouTube and Twitter to fight Texas censorship law

• Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are targets of new Texas social media censorship law
• Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who signed the new law , says social media censors conservative views.
• Social media law will likely face a constitutional challenge over First Amendment issues.

Facebook, Google’s YouTube and Twitter will fight a new Texas law cracking down on social media companies for allegedly censoring conservative speech and former President Donald Trump.

Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican who publicly backed the legislation, signed the bill Thursday, making Texas the second state to target companies for restricting or removing content or accounts for violating their rules.

“There is a dangerous movement by some social media companies to silence conservative ideas and values,” Abbott said during a news conference. “This is wrong and we will not allow it in Texas.”

The Texas law, passed in the final days of the second special session called by Abbott, would allow any state resident banned from a social media platform for their political views to sue the platform.

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The state attorney general also would be able to sue on behalf of a user or a group of users.

It is similar to a Florida law that was blocked in June by a federal judge one day before it could take effect.

Trade groups representing the technology industry pledged to challenge the law on the same basis they challenged the Florida law which, they say, has the same First Amendment flaws and is unconstitutional. 

“The same outcome will almost certainly occur in Texas,” Steve DelBianco, NetChoice’s president, said.

“Moderation of user posts is crucial to keeping the internet safe for Texas families, but this bill would put the Texas government in charge of content policies,” he said.

Proponents of the new law hailed its passage.

“Texas’ new law, House Bill 20, is a paramount move taken by Lone Star legislators to protect the free speech rights of their constituents,” said Samantha Fillmore, state government relations manager for conservative think tank The Heartland Institute. 

“There is no question that big tech is integral to free speech in today’s day and age,” she said. “Because of this, Big Tech can no longer unilaterally decide who can say what without being held accountable.”

Dozens of states are considering legislation to restrict how social media platforms regulate people’s speech, though few have gotten this far.

These bills resonate with conservatives who believe their First Amendment rights are violated when social media posts are labeled or removed or when their accounts are banned for violating the policies of social media platforms. Trump’s suspensions from the major platforms inspired the new bills.

“This move by Texas, a heavy hitter in national politics, is likely to inspire other states to take such measures to show their citizens that…