U.S. appeals court rejects big tech's right regulate online speech | Reuters

Facebook, Google and Twitter logos are seen in this combination photo from Reuters files. REUTERS/File PhotoRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSept 16 (Reuters) – A U.S. appeals court on Friday upheld a Texas law that bars large social media companies from banning or censoring users based on “viewpoint,” a setback for technology industry groups that say the measure would turn platforms into bastions of dangerous content.The largely 2-1 ruling by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in New Orleans, sets up the potential for the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on the law, which conservatives and right-wing commentators have said is necessary to prevent “Big Tech” from suppressing their views.”Today we reject the idea that corporations have a freewheeling First Amendment right to censor what people say,” Judge Andrew Oldham, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, wrote in the ruling.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comThe Texas law was passed by the state’s Republican-led legislature and signed by its Republican governor.The tech groups that challenged the law and were on the losing end of Friday’s ruling include NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association, which count Meta Platforms’ (META.O) Facebook, Twitter (TWTR.N) and…
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