US law targets social media giants

TALLAHASSEE/WASHINGTON: Florida’s Republican governor Ron Desantis signed a bill on Monday that seeks to punish social media platforms that remove “conservative ideas” from their sites, though it is not clear if it would pass constitutional muster because it might violate the First Amendment.

The new law will enable the state to fine large social media companies $250,000 a day if they remove an account of a statewide political candidate, and $25,000 a day if they remove an account of someone running for a local office. The law takes effect on July 1.

“Some of these massive companies in Silicon Valley are exerting a power over our population that really has no precedent in American history,” Desantis said during a bill-signing ceremony at Florida International University in Miami. “One of their major missions seems to be suppressing ideas.”

It’s questionable whether Florida will be able to enforce it. Federal law prevents internet companies from being sued for removing posts and federal law trumps state law when there is a conflict.

Washington sues Amazon

The attorney general for the American capital city of Washington, DC sued Amazon on Tuesday on antitrust grounds, claiming the tech giant abuses its dominant position in online retail sales.

The lawsuit filed by the office of attorney general Karl Racine has alleged that Amazon’s control of 50-70% of US e-commerce sales results in higher consumer prices.