The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) filed a for a preliminary injunction to block parts of Florida’s HB3 that would restrict protected free speech in violation of the Constitution. CCIA says Florida HB3 regulations is a violation of the First Amendment.
CCIA, with its co-Plaintiff NetChoice, filed the lawsuit in October 2024, explaining this statute violates the First Amendment by blocking and restricting minors—and likely adults as well—from using certain websites to view lawful content.
“Despite its vague language, this statute plainly is meant to regulate our members by restricting their ability to reach young people and empower them to communicate online. We shall continue our fight to strike down this law as a violation of the First Amendment right to engage in lawful speech online,” said Stephanie Joyce, Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff, who is the Director of CCIA’s Litigation Center.
Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of NetChoice & CCIA’s core First Amendment arguments against Texas and Florida’s laws controlling online speech.
“The high court sent the case back to the lower courts for further factual development while explaining that the First Amendment protects against Texas and Florida’s bungled, unconstitutional laws that would have transferred control over Americans’ speech to the government,” said CCIA.
State lawmakers said the bill from last year was important because it addressed what they perceive as bias and censorship by large social media platforms against conservative voices. The legislation imposes various restrictions and obligations on social media platforms, such as prohibiting the deplatforming of political candidates and requiring detailed disclosures about content moderation policies. It aims to treat social media platforms like common carriers.
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