The Supreme Court heard arguments for another social-media-related case on Monday — the latest in a string of cases this term that has had the justices assessing what free speech looks like in the digital era.
The majority of the justices seemed skeptical about the claims that the Biden administration coerced social media platforms to remove content it deemed problematic or misinformation. It’s part of a growing conversation around the extent to which the government should be allowed to get involved with a public debate.
A decision on the case will likely come in June when the term ends.
The case also comes on the heels of the Supreme Court hearing landmark cases from Texas and Florida that argued social media platforms should not be allowed to remove users’ posts, even if they violate content policies or promote misinformation and hate.
What are the implications of these social media cases?
Free speech advocates are hoping the Supreme Court will use Murthy v. Missouri to finally establish how the government can intervene when it comes to dangerous misinformation on social media without threatening First Amendment protection.
“The government has no authority to threaten platforms into censoring protected speech, but it must have the ability to participate in public discourse so that it can effectively govern and inform the public of its views,” Alex Abdo, litigation director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, said in a statement.
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