Idaho Dispatch

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New Bill Aimed at Social Media Censorship in Idaho

By • March 12, 2021

A new bill has been introduced in the Idaho Legislature aimed at “wrongful social media censorship.”

House Bill 323 was introduced yesterday morning by Rep. Tammy Nichols (R-Middleton) in the House State Affairs Committee.

Rep. John Vander Woude (R-Nampa) and Rep. Vito Barbieri (R-Dalton Gardens) are also listed as sponsors of the bill.

The bill’s official Statement of Purpose is as follows:

This legislation protects against wrongful censorship by social media websites; providing definitions; providing that the owner or operator of a social media website is subject to a private right of action by certain social media users in this state under certain conditions; providing for damages; authorizing the award of reasonable attorney fees and costs; providing exceptions for the deletion or censorship of certain types of speech.

Nichols, one of the bill sponsors, provided the following statement to Idaho Dispatch about his bill.

Big tech censorship has become a huge concern for people all over the world, but especially here in the US. Unfortunately, at this current time, the federal government will not be taking up this issue, even as it continues to get worse.

A state law solution in the form of the “Stop Social Media Censorship Act” causes deceptive trade practice law to catch up to modern day technology. This is the best solution to the ongoing problem of social media censorship, because once enacted the statue would fall squarely within the state law exemption that is already built into section 230 of the communications decency act.

This legislation if inacted would also allow for damages to be pursued and awarded by a court of law. It is important to include damages in this bill to help send a message to these companies that censorship and other deceptive practices will not be tolerated.

HB 323 made it out of the House State Affairs Committee on a voice vote.

A public hearing has not yet been scheduled for the bill.

What do you think of social media censorship? Should there be more of it, less of it, or is the current amount of censorship enough?

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Tags: Censorship, HB 323, John Vander Woude, Social Media, Tammy Nichols, Vito Barbieri

6 thoughts on “New Bill Aimed at Social Media Censorship in Idaho”

  1. Yes! It’s about time! This is not just about censorship. It is about biased and targeted censorship that makes no sense to sane people. I was banned for 30 days when I called someone a “silly little boy” after he labeled me as “Vanilla ISIS.”

  2. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) has the terminology correct: “Woke Supremacy” has got to go.

    The vast majority of our population simply want to get along, be free, help one another and happily raise their families in the way they choose.

    Social Media and Big City Liberal Rags are behind and encouraging this Woke Supremacy.

    Let’s shut this down, maintain our rights, and move on to freedom.

    Vote “YES” for HB 323.

  3. Thank you for helping Americans who know what the reality of being a true citizen includes freedom of thought and putting that into speech. Our opinions count and any media platform or any person who violates or hinders those rights need to be held accountable under the law and the Constitution!

  4. I might be repeating above but here are suggestions that Florida n Texas has proposed.
    ADD OR REPLACE:
    # Censorship and deplatforming on social media by tech companies would prohibit companies from suspending the account of a political candidate and be subject to a fine of $100,000 for each day the account of a statewide candidate is blocked, or $10,000 a day for other office seekers.
    In addition, this would also allow consumers to sue if they have been treated unfairly, censorship and deplatforming and would authorize the state attorney general to take on the country’s largest tech companies because of anti-competitive practices.
    # Social media companies would be required to reveal how they became aware of any content they censor.
    # If social media companies censor or block a user, the bill requires that they unblock and un-censor them. If social media companies don’t comply, the state of Idaho will fine them on a daily basis until social media complied.
    # Social media companies would also be required to pay all plaintiff court costs and attorney fees if they are sued.
    Please vote YES. Don’t allow social media to take away our freedom of speech.
    Is it possible to do so with the news media who are making the same statements n claims that Social medias are doing?

  5. Big Tech and Social Media have become to powerful and biased to be allowed to continue to behave poorly. Personally, I have eliminated them from my life and I hope others do as well. Low information voters are being influenced by these evil companies and penalties are a must. Good work and God Bless.

  6. These Big Tech and Social Media Hacks need to go. For decades they have lined the pockets of Governments world wide and been allowed to become more powerful than any Government on Earth. This needs to stop now.
    I agree with Susan and add the language that Florida and Texas have in there proposal. Vote yes on HB 323.
    God Bless the United States of America.

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