Senator Ted Cruz plans to introduce legislation in the coming weeks that would facilitate lawsuits against the government for perceived censorship. This proposal aims to establish new protocols for individuals who believe they have been censored, allowing them to seek monetary damages. The bill is expected to contain exceptions for specific scenarios, such as ongoing government investigations and certain forms of unprotected speech, including nonconsensual intimate imagery. Cruz has indicated that he will hold hearings addressing government censorship that may involve FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr.
Cruz’s remarks on this issue follow comments made by Carr during a podcast, where Carr threatened action against late-night host Jimmy Kimmel after Kimmel joked about a controversial figure. Cruz criticized Carr’s remarks, suggesting they could lead to broader implications for conservative voices in media and expressing concern over the potential for such threats to silence discourse across the political spectrum. He acknowledged that he had been developing the bill prior to recent events but sees an opportunity for bipartisan support among Democratic colleagues.
However, Cruz’s approach may provoke backlash from Democrats, especially as he has accused the Biden administration of using the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to exert pressure on social media platforms to manage speech. In a recent statement, Cruz claimed this administration had influenced platforms to deplatform individuals questioning topics related to COVID-19 and mail-in voting.
A Supreme Court ruling last year determined that the Biden administration had not unlawfully coerced tech platforms, as there was no concrete link between their communications and the platforms’ actions. Despite their political differences, Cruz has expressed a willingness to appear on Kimmel’s show to discuss the upcoming legislation, although he added a personal critique regarding Kimmel’s comedic value.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/797766/cruz-government-censorship-kimmel-carr-first-amendment