The Supreme Court on Friday lifted restrictions on the Biden administration’s communications with social media companies while a lawsuit targeting the government’s efforts to combat online misinformation plays out.

The court’s move pauses rulings from a federal trial court and a conservative appeals court that severely limited the ability of the White House, the surgeon general, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the FBI and a top US cybersecurity agency to communicate with social media companies about content related to Covid-19 and elections the government views as misinformation.

  • 【J】【u】【s】【t】【Z】@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    9
    arrow-down
    6
    ·
    edit-2
    1 year ago

    Let’s just be absolutely clear about what the Constitution permits with regard to public health: if a pathogen sufficiently threatens national security, such as a zombie plague or something, the government has a right and probably even a duty to bomb entire cities of Americans if doing so would stop the spread. The idea that the same government is somehow not authorized through notice, comment, and public administrative rulemaking to regulate the communications industry a little amidst a pandemic is asinine.

    • Trantarius@programming.dev
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      7
      arrow-down
      4
      ·
      1 year ago

      What the hell are you talking about? Nowhere in the Constitution is a response to disease even mentioned. It sure doesn’t mention anything about bombing cities. The Constitution has been interpreted very loosely to allow the government the powers it has now, but bombing US cities is beyond the scope of even that. The idea that they have a constitutional duty to do so is even more absurd.

      The Constitution is an actual thing, you know. You could read it instead of just making stuff up.

      • eletes
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        1 year ago

        That would make a wild plot point in a zombie movie though…

      • ThrowawayPermanente
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        3
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        Actually Section 7, Article 3, Paragraph 8 clearly states ‘none of this counts if people start getting sick lol’

      • 【J】【u】【s】【t】【Z】@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        6
        ·
        edit-2
        1 year ago

        Federalism gives the sovereign inherent authority to perpetuate itself. This is basic western philosophy of government. I mean, have you heard of martial law? Not in the Constitution either, but zero question of its legitimacy in times of existential threat to the federal power.

        Hey if only downvotes changed facts. There are also the necessary and proper clause, police powers clause, general welfare clause, common defense clause, war powers clause, interstate commerce clause. You go read it.