Trade group asks Supreme Court to limit Mississippi’s social media law – NEWS10 ABC

Zach Schonfeld and The Hill 3 hours ago An internet trade group asked the Supreme Court on Wednesday to block Mississippi from enforcing its age-verification law against nine major social media platforms.  NetChoice asked the justices for an emergency intervention after the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last week without explanation lifted a block that had protected platforms like Facebook and Instagram from the new requirements.  “In a one-sentence order, the Fifth Circuit upended the First Amendment rights of Mississippi citizens seeking to access fully protected speech across social media websites,” NetChoice wrote. The existing block had prevented Mississippi from enforcing the law against nine NetChoice members covered by the law: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, Snapchat, Reddit, Pinterest, Nextdoor and Dreamwidth.   Justice Samuel Alito, who by default handles emergency requests arising from the 5th Circuit, ordered Mississippi to respond within a week. Alito could then act on the request alone or refer it to the full court for a vote.  Mississippi’s law requires social media companies to verify users’ age and require minors to have express consent from a parent or guardian to use the platform. Covered websites must also work to mitigate minors’ exposure to harmful material, and violations carry
Read More