CNN —A federal judge on Tuesday ordered some Biden administration agencies and top officials not to communicate with social media companies about certain content, handing a win to GOP states in a lawsuit accusing the government of going too far in its effort to combat Covid-19 disinformation. In a preliminary injunction issued by US District Judge Terry Doughty, the judge ordered a slew of federal agencies and more than a dozen top officials not to communicate with social media companies about taking down “content containing protected free speech” that’s posted on the platforms. The injunction notes that the government can still communicate with the companies as part of efforts to curb illegal activity and address national security threats. The lawsuit brought by the Missouri and Louisiana attorneys general in 2022 represents a novel way to pursue “censorship” claims accusing the Biden administration of effectively silencing conservatives by leaning on the private social media companies. The judge had previously ordered the administration to produce documents identifying government officials and the nature of their communications with social media platforms.

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Persons: Terry Doughty, ” that’s, Vivek Murthy, Karine Jean, Pierre, Doughty, ” Doughty, Donald Trump, Meta, Biden, Doughty hasn’t, ’ Organizations: CNN, Biden, GOP, US District, Department of Health, Human Services, National Institute of Allergy, US Centers for Disease Control, Justice Department, FBI, White House Press, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, White, Google Locations: Missouri, Louisiana