US Senators Ted Cruz and Ron Wyden have introduced the bipartisan JAWBONE Act, which aims to prevent federal officials from coercing media and tech platforms into censoring protected speech. The bill would allow victims of such 'jawboning' to sue for damages and be enforced by state attorneys general. The legislation responds to concerns about government overreach in pressuring companies to restrict content, with examples including pressure on social media platforms and broadcasters.
Background
The First Amendment protects free speech from government censorship, but there have been ongoing debates about the extent to which government officials can pressure private companies to moderate content. Recent controversies have involved both Democratic and Republican administrations pressuring tech companies over content moderation decisions.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Jun 12, 2026 at 03:31 AM
- Score
- 6.0 / 10