Washington CNN —Social media companies should be treated as utilities such as telephone or telegraph companies, a group of states led by Republican attorneys general told the US Supreme Court on Monday.
Contested state laws forcing social media companies to carry all online speech are constitutional because tech platforms enjoy “hyperconcentration” of economic power, the group argued.
The high-stakes case could determine the future of social media moderation and online political speech and is expected to go to oral argument next month.
The case could have implications on the posts that people and institutions make on social media during this presidential election cycle.
In their brief, the states noted “striking similarities between social media companies and telegraph and telephones,” and that those similarities justify tough new rules barring discrimination on the basis of political viewpoint.
Organizations:
Washington CNN — Social, Republican, US, Meta, Facebook, ” Tech
Locations:
Arizona, Texas, Florida