SCOTUS Rules That US Government Can Continue Talking to Social Media Companies

The Supreme Court has ruled in a 6–3 decision that the US government can continue communicating with social media companies, overturning an injunction that had prevented such interactions for over a year. The case, brought by the attorneys general of Louisiana and Missouri, alleged that government agencies influenced content moderation practices on platforms, leading to the removal of conservative-leaning content. However, the court found that the plaintiffs did not provide enough evidence to prove direct censorship injuries resulting from government communications with social media companies. The ruling emphasized that platforms often exercise independent judgment in content moderation. Experts note the importance of government-platform communication in disseminating accurate information to users, such as voting locations or emergency procedures. The decision is seen as potentially opening the door for increased government involvement with platforms, regardless of political affiliations. Google and Meta declined to comment on the case.