Judge orders Biden administration to limit contact with social media platforms

The suit is part of a longstanding effort by Republican-aligned states to challenge the Biden administration's cooperation with social media.

By Ben Whedon

Published: July 4, 2023 2:26pm

A Louisiana federal judge on Tuesday ordered the Biden administration to limit its contact with social media platforms, determining that the government likely violated the First Amendment by working to censor disfavored political viewpoints online.

Judge Terry Doughty, a Trump appointed U.S. District Court judge, issued a preliminary injunction barring federal officials and agencies from contacting social media firms to seek the removal of protected speech, Politico reported.

Doughty singled out White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, and several health officials in the administration, while issuing a blanket ban on FBI and DOJ employees.

The suit is part of a longstanding effort by Republican-aligned states to challenge the Biden administration's cooperation with social media, which they say improperly censored disfavored positions during the coronavirus pandemic.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.