Bipartisan JAWBONE Act Introduced to Address Government Coercion of Tech Companies
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) have introduced the JAWBONE Act, a new bipartisan bill aimed at regulating government interaction with technology platforms. The proposed legislation would allow individuals to sue for damages if a government official illegally attempts to coerce a social media, AI, or broadcasting company into removing their content. This provision applies even if the content is not ultimately removed, and the bill also includes new transparency requirements for government communications with these companies.
A new bipartisan bill, named the JAWBONE Act, has been introduced by Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR).
The primary aim of the legislation is to enable Americans to seek damages if a government official is found to have illegally attempted to coerce a social media, artificial intelligence (AI), or broadcasting company into removing their posts. This right to sue would exist regardless of whether the platform ultimately removed the content in question.
In addition to allowing individuals to sue for such damages, the JAWBONE Act proposes new transparency requirements. These requirements would apply to communications between government entities and social media, AI, and broadcast companies, aiming to shed light on potential pressures or requests made by officials.
According to The Verge, the bill could empower individuals to take legal action in instances where they believe government officials have overstepped their authority in attempting to influence content moderation decisions on digital and broadcast platforms.
