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Never lose a debate with a global warming alarmist!
Testimony Before the Maine Judiciary Committee on LD 1609 in Reference to Prohibiting Certain Social Media Censorship
May 12, 2021
The Heartland Institute
Thank you for holding a hearing on Legislative Document 1609, legislation that provides Maine citizens a private cause of action in court when they have been censored or “de-platformed” on the various social media platforms that have become omnipresent in contemporary political speech.
My name is Samantha Fillmore, and I am a State Government Relations Manager at The Heartland Institute. The Heartland Institute is a 37-year-old independent, national, nonprofit organization and our mission is to discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems. Heartland is headquartered in Illinois and focuses on providing elected officials on all levels reliable and timely research on important policy issues such as big tech censo
By Samantha Fillmore | May 13, 2021 | 4:42pm EDT
Featured are the logos of several Big Tech and social media apps. (Photo credit: DENIS CHARLET/AFP via Getty Images)
The Maine House of Representatives is considering House Bill 1609, “An Act to Stop Social Media Censorship.” This legislation would provide citizens of the Pine Tree State a private cause of action in court if they have been unduly censored or “de-platformed” on the various social media platforms that have become omnipresent in contemporary political speech.
In the blink of an eye, the emergence of social media has elevated the national conversation and political discourse to a breadth nearly unimaginable a decade ago. The emerging technologies and mediums promised democratization of free speech in a way never dreamed of.
Publications
Never lose a debate with a global warming alarmist!
May 10, 2021
In this Research & Commentary, Samantha Fillmore examines a House Bill in Maine that would allow citizens a private cause of action if their political speech has been unjustly censored on big tech platforms.
The Maine House of Representatives will soon consider House Bill 1609, “An Act to Stop Social Media Censorship.” This legislation would provide citizens of the Pine Tree State a private cause of action in court if they have been unduly censored or “de-platformed” on the various social media platforms that have become omnipresent in contemporary political speech.
ON DAY ONE ‘22 US SENATE CANDIDATE MARK PUKITA (R-OH) WILL TAKE AIM AT SOCIAL MEDIA CENSORSHIP
SB-17 will force Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other Big-Tech oligopolies to be uncensored, equally accessible, and unbiased social platforms.
These platforms are the new ‘21st Century Town Square’, albeit an electronic ‘Town Square’, and must allow for the free speech which is essential to our democracy in America.” Mark PukitaDUBLIN, OH, US, April 29, 2021 /EINPresswire.com/ 2022 US Senate Candidate Mark Pukita will introduce legislation to stop social media censorship on his first day in office. Pukita’s proposed SB-17, otherwise known as “The Stop Social Media Censorship Amendment”, will take aim at social media censorship. Pukita has the draft legislation written and is ready to introduce it on January 3, 2023.
West Virginia Bill Looks to Censor Social Media Can the government regulate information shared by social media companies during an election? According to one West Virginia lawmaker, the answer is yes. The ACLU, however, says not so fast. Katya Maruri, Government Technology | April 20, 2021 | Analysis
A new West Virginia bill proposes regulations against censorship of information by social media companies during an election, with some “criminal and civil penalties depending on the nature of the violation.
Known as House Bill 3307, the legislation looks to create two things: 1) the Social Media Integrity and Anti-Corruption in Elections Act and 2) the Stop Social Media Censorship Act.