Biden administration appeals federal judge’s order on social media companies

WASHINGTON (AA) – The Biden administration has filed an objection to a court order restricting contact between federal agencies and social media companies regarding online posts.

Justice Department lawyers are seeking a stay of the order.

U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty had ordered July 4 that the administration limit its contacts with social media companies.

Doughty was appointed to the bench by former President Donald Trump.

He also denied a request by the administration to halt his order.

Doughty is overseeing a lawsuit filed by Republican officials in Missouri and Louisiana and a conservative website.

Those lawsuits allege that the Biden administration censored free speech on the Internet in an effort to stop misinformation about COVID -19.

Justice Department lawyers told the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals that Doughty’s order was too broad.

They said the judge issued a general order with broad language.

“Indeed, the order denying the stay—presumably highlighting the ostensibly strongest evidence—referred to ‘a series of public media statements’ and a refusal to comment on a news story,” the Justice Department lawyers wrote.

This, they said, meant that all government communications with social media platforms regarding content moderation were prohibited.

They also claimed Doughty found no evidence to support the claim that federal officials threatened social media companies.

The Justice Department has asked the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals for a stay of the ruling while the appeal is pending.

Alternatively, the department is seeking a 10-day stay of Doughty’s order so the matter can be addressed by the Supreme Court.