In this file photo taken on April 28, 2020, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during a meeting with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a law on May 24, 2021, which bars social media firms from “de-platforming” political candidates, drawing immediate fire from civil liberties activists and the tech industry. Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP
MIAMI — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a law Monday which bars social media firms from “de-platforming” political candidates, drawing immediate fire from civil liberties activists and the tech industry.
The law marked the latest salvo in a political battle over social media content moderation following a bitter 2020 US election and the banning by major platforms of then-president Donald Trump, who was impeached for inciting the January 6 Capitol rampage.
The law would impose fines of $250,000 a day if social media firms remove an account of a statewide political candidate.
It also allows Floridians to sue technology firms if they face “unfair” treatment.
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DeSantis said the measure would prevent large platforms like Facebook and Twitter from limiting speech of politicians.
“Many in our state have experienced censorship and other tyrannical behavior firsthand in Cuba and Venezuela,” he said.
