Sen. Ted Cruz is preparing to introduce legislation to strengthen protections against government-directed censorship, making it easier for consumers to seek monetary damages in related lawsuits, according to an interview by The Wall Street Journal.
The move comes weeks after Cruz criticized the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) efforts to pressure ABC to remove late-night host Jimmy Kimmel from the air, following Kimmel’s remarks about the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr had also publicly threatened the network shortly before Kimmel’s suspension was announced.
Cruz said the panel has been investigating allegations that the Biden administration urged social-media platforms to suppress content flagged as disinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that in recent discussions with Democratic lawmakers, some expressed support for his criticism of Carr, and may offer a bipartisan path forward for the intended bill.
The proposed legislation would establish new legal procedures and definitions for courts and federal agencies handling censorship claims. It would include exceptions for legitimate government investigations and would not apply to unprotected forms of speech, such as nonconsensual intimate imagery.
A previous 2023 House-passed bill aimed at restricting federal employees from encouraging tech platforms to remove protected speech stalled in the Senate over concerns about curbing harmful content and misinformation.
Cruz also shared he would be willing to appear on Kimmel’s show to promote the bill, despite their history of public disagreements.
