The Supreme Court announced that existing rulings on social media regulation by Texas and Florida will be put on hold and returned to lower courts.
The cases will be further reviewed and will undergo proper analysis, citing possible unconstitutional circumstances from previous rulings.
Supreme Court Holds Social Media Legislation in Texas, Florida
In an official document, the Court concluded that the recent social media moderation by the states is "unlikely to survive heightened scrutiny." NetChoice, the representative of tech companies, claimed that the regulations have violated the companies' free speech rights.
"Today, we vacate both decisions for reasons separate from the First Amendment merits, because neither Court of Appeals properly considered the facial nature of NetChoice's challenge," Justice Elena Kagan wrote.
The Court also argued that both rulings have failed to pass "even the less stringent form of review." Kagan's written opinion is signed by five justices, while all nine justices agreed on the overall conclusion.
Supreme Court Defends Freedom of Speech of Individuals
Texas and Florida welcomed its social media regulations in 2021 after former president Donald Trump was banned on Twitter and Facebook. Republican governors signed the enactment of the legislation.
The Court stated that states are prohibited from interfering with individuals' interests to push an ideological balance. Texas' rule is linked to "suppression of free expression" and is deemed by the Court as invalid.
In the case of Florida, the state could not override the content of a paper as it would substitute "governmental regulation" on the editorial choice of the publication.
Free speech advocates applauded the Court's ruling, emphasizing that it is crucial to protect individual's rights to speak their minds and have equal access to information on the internet.
