CCIA, NetChoice Seek SCOTUS Review of Texas Social Media Law

The Texas social media law “infringes the core First Amendment rights” of NetChoice and Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) members “by denying them editorial control over their own websites, while forcing them to publish speech they do not wish to disseminate,” the internet industry groups said in a Thursday petition for writ of certiorari at the Supreme Court. The groups said in September they would seek review of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision to uphold the Texas social media law HB-20 (see 2209290047). They also seek SCOTUS review of a similar Florida law (see 2210240066). SCOTUS is expected to hear the Texas case because the 5th Circuit decision created a circuit split with an earlier 11th Circuit decision partly striking down Florida law (see 2209190080). “If allowed to stand, the Fifth Circuit’s opinion will upend settled First Amendment jurisprudence and threaten to transform speech on the Internet as we know it today,” said the internet groups’ petition. CCIA President Matt Schruers said the case, “involving a key Constitutional issue and split appellate court decisions, calls for Supreme Court oversight.”