Article
Courtesy of News Releases
By
Staff
Published May 28, 202
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WATCH VIDEO |
Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 7072 to
hold Big Tech accountable by driving transparency and safeguarding
Floridians’ ability to access and participate in online platforms.
“This session, we took action to ensure that ‘We the
People’ — real Floridians across the Sunshine State — are
guaranteed protection against the Silicon Valley elites,”
said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Many in our state have
experienced censorship and other tyrannical behavior
firsthand in Cuba and Venezuela. If Big Tech censors enforce
rules inconsistently, to discriminate in favor of the
dominant Silicon Valley ideology, they will now be held
accountable.”
“What we’ve been seeing across the U.S. is an effort to
silence, intimidate, and wipe out dissenting voices by the
leftist media and big corporations. Today, by signing SB
7072 into law, Florida is taking back the virtual public
square as a place where information and ideas can flow
freely. Many of our constituents know the dangers of being
silenced or have been silenced themselves under communist
rule. Thankfully in Florida we have a Governor that fights
against big tech oligarchs that contrive, manipulate, and
censor if you voice views that run contrary to their radical
leftist narrative,” Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuņez said. |
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“I’m pleased to see Florida setting the example by doing
everything in our power to stop the abuses that are possible when big tech
goes unchecked. People have a right to express opposing views. This good
bill protects candidates for elected office, media outlets and others from
unfair and arbitrary discrimination on social media platforms. Thank you,
Governor DeSantis and Speaker Sprowls, for your leadership on this important
issue,” said Senate President Wilton Simpson.
“Social media platforms have morphed into the town square,” said Speaker
Chris Sprowls. “If our democracy is going to survive, we must stand up to
these technological oligarchs and hold them accountable. This legislation
protects the free speech of Floridians and demands transparency. No more
secret algorithms, inconsistent standards, shadow banning, and de-platforming.
In Florida, sunshine is the best disinfectant – and it’s time we bring these
big tech monopolies out of the dark. I applaud Governor Ron DeSantis,
President Simpson, and the Senate for taking action while our federal
government idly sits by and congratulate Commerce Chairman Blaise Ingoglia
for carrying this in the House.”
“Big Tech has a responsibility to be fair and transparent to all of its
users, regardless of our political ideology. Requiring Big Tech to define
the behaviors that will lead to someone being de-platformed is a significant
victory for free speech and I am grateful for our Governor’s leadership on
this issue,” said Senator Ray Rodrigues.
“Day in and day out, our freedom of speech as conservatives is under attack
by the “big tech” oligarchs in Silicon Valley. But in Florida, we said this
egregious example of biased silencing will not be tolerated. It was an honor
carrying this historic piece of legislation for Governor DeSantis to ensure
our voices are heard as we safeguard free speech,” said Representative
Blaise Ingoglia.
Under SB 7072:
All Floridians treated unfairly by Big Tech platforms will have the right to
sue companies that violate this law — and win monetary damages. This reform
safeguards the rights of every Floridian by requiring social media companies
to be transparent about their content moderation practices and give users
proper notice of changes to those policies, which prevents Big Tech
bureaucrats from “moving the goalposts” to silence viewpoints they don’t
like.
The Attorney General of Florida can bring action against technology
companies that violate this law, under Florida’s Unfair and Deceptive Trade
Practices Act. If social media platforms are found to have violated
antitrust law, they will be restricted from contracting with any public
entity. That “antitrust violator” blacklist imposes real consequences for
Big Tech oligopolies’ bottom line.
Big Tech is prohibited from de-platforming Floridian political candidates.
The Florida Election Commission will impose fines of $250,000 per day on any
social media company that de-platforms any candidate for statewide office,
and $25,000 per day for de-platforming candidates for non-statewide offices.
Any Floridian can block any candidate they don’t want to hear from, and that
is a right that belongs to each citizen — it’s not for Big Tech companies to
decide.
READ THE BILL TEXT
HERE
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