A United States federal judge has blocked officials in the administration of President Joe Biden from contacting social media companies about content moderation.
In a court filing on Tuesday, Judge Terry Doughty issued the injunction in response to a lawsuit brought by Republican attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri. They allege that the government went too far in its efforts to encourage social media platforms to address false information.
Doughty wrote that the government’s attempt to limit false claims related to elections and the COVID-19 pandemic “arguably involves the most massive attack against free speech in United States history”.
A federal judge appointed by former President Donald Trump, Doughty had previously issued a ruling in January 2022 to block COVID-19 vaccination requirements for school teachers. He also barred mandatory vaccination requirements for healthcare workers, but that decision was largely overruled by the US Supreme Court.
His filing on Tuesday includes numerous references to conservative talking points.
