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A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 24 May 2022
Appeals court: Florida law on social media unconstitutional

By CURT ANDERSON munications companies,
Associated Press said the ruling represents
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — victory for Internet users
A Florida law intended to and free speech in general
punish social media plat- especially as it relates to
forms like Facebook and potentially offensive con-
Twitter is an unconstitu- tent.
tional violation of the First “When a digital service
Amendment, a federal ap- takes action against prob-
peals court ruled Monday, lematic content on its
dealing a major victory to own site whether extrem-
companies who had been ism, Russian propaganda,
accused by GOP Gov. Ron or racism and abuse it is
DeSantis of discriminat- exercising its own right to
ing against conservative free expression,” said CCIA
thought. President Matt Schruers in a
A three-judge panel of the statement.
Atlanta-based 11th U.S. As enacted, the law would
Circuit Court of Appeals give Florida’s attorney gen-
unanimously concluded eral authority to sue com-
that it was overreach for panies under the state’s
DeSantis and the Republi- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at Miami’s Freedom Tower, on Monday, May 9, 2022. Deceptive and Unfair Trade
can-led Florida Legislature Associated Press Practices Act. It would also
to tell the social media allow individual Floridians
companies how to con- eral district judge on the However, the appeals pan- the 2024 GOP presidential to sue social media com-
duct their work under the law, which was signed by el ruled that the tech com- nomination. panies for up to $100,000
Constitution’s free speech DeSantis in 2021. It was part panies’ actions were pro- He was the first governor to if they feel they’ve been
guarantee. of an overall conservative tected, with Judge New- sign a bill like this into law, treated unfairly.
“Put simply, with minor ex- effort to portray social me- som writing that Facebook, although similar ones have The bill targeted social
ceptions, the government dia companies as gener- Twitter, TikTok and others been proposed in other media platforms that
can’t tell a private person ally liberal in outlook and are “engaged in constitu- states. have more than 100 mil-
or entity what to say or hostile to ideas outside of tionally protected expres- One of those, in Texas, was lion monthly users, which
how to say it,” said Circuit that viewpoint, especially sive activity when they allowed to go into effect include online giants as
Judge Kevin Newsom, an from the political right. moderate and curate the by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court Twitter and Facebook. But
appointee of former Presi- “Some of these massive, content that they dissemi- of Appeals, and the tech lawmakers carved out an
dent Donald Trump, in the massive companies in Sili- nate on their platforms.” companies involved there exception for the Walt Dis-
opinion. “We hold that it con Valley are exerting a There was no immediate are asking for emergency ney Co. and their apps by
is substantially likely that power over our population response to emails Monday U.S. Supreme Court review including that theme park
social media companies that really has no prece- afternoon from DeSantis’ on whether to block it. No owners wouldn’t be sub-

even the biggest ones are dent in American history,” press secretary or commu- decision on that was imme- ject to the law.
private actors whose rights DeSantis said during a May nications director on the diately released. The law would require large
the First Amendment pro- 2021 bill-signing ceremony. ruling. The Computer & Commu- social media companies to
tects.” “One of their major missions DeSantis is running for re- nications Industry Associa- publish standards on how it
The ruling upholds a similar seems to be suppressing election this year and tion, a nonprofit group rep- decides to “censor, deplat-
decision by a Florida fed- ideas.” eyeing a potential run for resenting tech and com- form, and shadow ban.”q

Cooler weather helps firefighters battling New Mexico blaze

the blaze from growing fires and burned into one to recover without planting.
as nearly 3,000 firefighters large conflagration. Flames The fire is among five active
worked to strengthen and have consumed more than large fires in the state and
increase their firebreaks. 484 square miles (1,253 among 14 nationally, ac-
Authorities also took stock square kilometers) of tim- cording to the National In-
of the ecological impact ber, grassland and brush teragency Fire Center.
of the blaze in a survey of and evacuations have The New Mexico fire ac-
burn severity and soil dam- been place for weeks. counts for nearly 60% of
age in areas that may be On Monday, the U.S. For- the 536 square miles (1,388
prone to extreme erosion est Service released a sur- square kilometers) con-
and lengthy deforestation. vey of vegetation and soil sumed by wildfires in the
The blaze that started near- damage across 118 square U.S. so far this year.
ly seven weeks ago in the miles ( 465 square kilome- Wildfires have broken out
Rocky Mountains foothills ter) of the Sangre de Cristo this spring in multiple states
remained just 40% con- Mountains that burned in in the western U.S., where
Fire rages along a ridgeline east of highway 518 near the Taos tained Monday. Fire crews recent weeks, including climate change and an en-
County line as firefighters from all over the country converge
on Northern New Mexico to battle the Hermit’s Peak and Calf were helped over the public and private land. during drought are fanning
Canyon fires on May 13, 2022. weekend by water-drop- About one-firth of the area the frequency and intensity
Associated Press ping helicopters and air- experienced high-severity of forest and grassland fires.
craft and cooler tempera- burning that can lead to The number of square miles
MORA, N.M. (AP) — Fire- largest active wildfire said tures, but warmer weather heavy and even danger- burned so far this year is far
fighters in New Mexico who Monday that cooler weath- was expected Monday. ous erosion. Trees in those above the 10-year national
are battling the nation’s er helped them prevent The blaze started as two areas will take many years average.q