Supreme Court allows Mississippi social media law to go into effect
The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to intervene on a lower court decision that affirmed a Mississippi law requiring users to verify their ages before using social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat.
The Mississippi law is far broader than a Supreme Court ruling just weeks ago that upheld a Texas law mandating age verification to access websites with sexually explicit material. Writing for the court’s conservative supermajority, in June, Justice Clarence Thomas held that requiring adults to verify their age prior to using sexually explicit sites did not violate the First Amendment’s Free Speech Clause because it is important to shield “children from sexually explicit content.”
In contrast, the Mississippi law requires all users to verify their ages before using common social media sites ranging from Facebook to Nextdoor, a social media site that connects people to their nearby neighbors.
In addition to the age verification rule, the Mississippi law requires social media websites to work to prevent children from accessing “harmful materials” and prohibits minors from using social media websites, such as Instagram and Youtube, without parental consent.
NetChoice, a tech industry association committed to “protecting online freedom” sued, arguing that the law unconstitutionally restricted nine of its member websites: websites mentioned above, including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Netchoice argues that the law violates the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech without governmental interference. The “monitoring-and-censorship requirements for vague categories of speech,” Netchoice argued, limits individuals’ access to important information ranging from university professors’ online lectures, to statements from political leaders, and other creative content.
Though it is within parents’ interests to protect their children from harmful content, said NetChoice, there are other tools—such as web browser parental controls—that parents can use to regulate their children’s online use.
A district court agreed with Netchoice, temporarily stopping the Mississippi law from going into effect while proceedings continued in the lower courts. But, the conservative Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the temporary block, without addressing whether or not the law violates the First Amendment.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh, concurred with the court’s order Thursday, but wrote: “In short, under this Court’s case law as it currently stands, the Mississippi law is likely unconstitutional. Nonetheless, because NetChoice has not sufficiently demonstrated that the balance of harms and equities favors it at this time, I concur in the Court’s denial of the application for interim relief.”
The Supreme Court refused to block the Fifth Circuit’s decision, allowing at least temporarily, for the Mississippi law to go into effect.
Senators from both parties grilled RFK Jr. on vaccines and more
In a blistering hearing, Senators from both parties challenged the health secretary to defend his actions, including on vaccines access and CDC leadership.
Why the medical community is thrilled by U.S. support for a ‘breakthrough’ HIV drug
Lenacapavir has the potential to end the HIV epidemic, researchers say. The Trump administration says backing this kind of effort will be a model for how it does global health work in the future.
Senators grill Trump’s nominee for Fed amid alarms over central bank independence
White House economist Stephen Miran was quizzed by senators about whether he could make decisions independently of President Trump, if he's confirmed to a seat on the Federal Reserve's governing board.
Senators grill Trump’s nominee for Fed amid alarms over central bank independence
White House economist Stephen Miran was quizzed by senators about whether he could make decisions independently of President Trump, if he's confirmed to a seat on the Federal Reserve's governing board.
A clash of the comebacks: Osaka and Anisimova face off in the U.S. Open semifinals
Naomi Osaka and Amanda Anisimova will face off in the U.S. Open semifinals on Thursday. Both players have been climbing up the rankings after taking mental health breaks from the sport.
Denying famine, Israel threatens more curbs on Gaza aid
Despite experts saying that famine has begun in Gaza, Israel is threatening more curbs on aid deliveries. Aid groups say extra restrictions will make the starvation crisis worse.