by Daniel Friend at The Texan
On an appeal from Attorney General Ken Paxton, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit issued a one-page order striking down a preliminary injunction that had prevented Texas’ new law aimed at curbing social media censorship from taking effect last December.
The order, a divided decision on the three-judge panel that did not include any explanatory opinion, effectively allows the law to take effect while the trial court that issued the injunction will continue to consider the arguments on the constitutionality of the law.
House Bill (HB) 20, authored by Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park) and sponsored by Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola), prohibits major social media platforms from censoring individuals based on their views and requires increased transparency from the companies.
“My office just secured another BIG WIN against BIG TECH,” tweeted Paxton with respect to the news. “HB20 is back in effect. The 5th Circuit made the right call here, and I look forward to continuing to defend the constitutionality of HB20.”
Gov. Greg Abbott called the order “A big win for free speech in Texas.”…
Continue Reading