Florida Becomes “Big Brother”

Florida Becomes "Big Brother"

The Florida House voted 77-38 and the Senate voted 23-17 in favor of a bill that effectively turns the state of Florida into “Big Brother.”

When signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican and close Trump ally who called for the bill’s passage, it will be a crime in Florida for social media platforms to ban or deplatform political candidates that violate terms of service by lying or inciting violence.

Said differently, Florida has passed a law in direct violation of the 1st Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. The government of Florida has made itself the “thought police.”

Confirming my fear that Florida had written a key totalitarian principle into law, state Rep. John Snyder, a Republican from the Port St. Lucie area, said, “What this bill is about is sending a loud message to Silicon Valley that they are not the absolute arbiters of truth.”

Thomas Jefferson and James Madison must be rolling in their graves.

Florida’s new law will likely be challenged in court, but the outcome of the case won’t change the minds of the people who voted for it. Let this sink in for a moment. Florida has passed a law that punishes organizations that won’t let politicians lie!

Once more, a little louder so the people in the back row can hear this. In Florida, after SB 7072 is signed into law, it will not only be legal for politicians to lie, but you will be punished by the state if you don’t allow them to do it on your privately-owned technology platform.

Author’s note: This is not a sponsored post. I am the author of this article and it expresses my own opinions. I am not, nor is my company, receiving compensation for it.

About Shelly Palmer

Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with technology, media and marketing. Named LinkedIn’s “Top Voice in Technology,” he covers tech and business for Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN and writes a popular daily business blog. He's a bestselling author, and the creator of the popular, free online course, Generative AI for Execs. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.

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