Radical leftists have taken disturbing steps to punish their political enemies, many Americans say.
The desire to seize power above all else doesn’t guarantee they get it anymore.
And the Ninth Circuit hit Gavin Newsom with a major shock that left him in a fit of rage.
California Democrats suffer a major legal blow thanks to X
Democrat politicians have controlled the Golden State for decades, passing a slew of radical “woke” measures.
These measures have practically bankrupted California and have unleashed many societal plagues on the nation’s most populated state.
Upticks in homelessness, drug use, out-of-control crime, preventable natural disasters, and gross mismanagement make life in California unbearable.
California lawmakers have also approved a slew of measures that severely restrict the personal liberties of Californians.
In 2022, for example, California lawmakers passed AB 587, a measure that forced social media companies to target and take action on so-called “hate speech” and “misinformation.”
In total, 66 members of the California House voted to pass this measure, with 14 not voting. In the Senate, 33 voted in favor, only 3 against, with 4 absent, sending the measure to Gavin Newsom’s desk, where he signed it into law.
However, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently overturned many provisions of this bill after Elon Musk’s X sued the state of California.
One aspect of AB 587 that got overturned involved a requirement for social media companies operating in the Golden State to provide details of certain types of so-called “hate speech” and “misinformation” that they moderate in their terms of service.
These social media companies were then required to submit reports of these moderation policies to the state attorney general twice a year for review.
If these social media companies do not censor their content to the satisfaction of the California attorney general, then they could face fines of $15,000 a day and potential further legal action.
The Ninth Circuit found most of these practices unconstitutional, ruling that they directly impede the First Amendment rights of Californians.
However, the Ninth Circuit allowed a provision to remain that requires social media companies to report to the state twice a year to stay in place; however, they are not required to discuss “moderation practices.”
Instead, the social media platforms must submit their terms of service to the attorney general and describe how they have been changed since the last report and how the respective platform implemented these terms.
AB 587 demonstrates just how far the Left will go
California’s AB 587 demonstrates just how far the Left will go to stifle free speech.
It also shows that California lawmakers are not afraid to manipulate the law to punish their political enemies.
AB 587 became law in September 2022, just as Elon Musk made the final preparations to purchase Twitter, now X.
Recognizing this direct assault on their company, X fought back and ultimately won this lawsuit.
However, many Californians fear that this legal setback will not stop the radical lawmakers in Sacramento, who have proven that they have no respect for the free market and the United States Constitution.
Stay tuned to Unmuzzled News for any updates to this ongoing story.
