Florida Tech Bills Risk Stifling State’s Investment Draw

For Immediate Release

Contact: Patrick Hedger (425-283-6512)

Washington, D.C. – The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is very concerned about the potential passage of legislation through the Florida state government that curbs the constitutional rights of online service providers.

In response, native Floridian and TPA Vice President of Policy Patrick Hedger offered the following comment:

“Amidst crushing lockdowns and crippling regulation across the country, Florida has established itself as an oasis of liberty in the past year. Unfortunately, all that good is being threatened by the wave of anti-tech sentiment running rampant through the state and country. A number of bills currently being considered are, at their very core, an attack on the First Amendment rights of tech companies operating in the state of Florida. The state would almost certainly be setting itself up for expensive, protracted, and hopeless litigation all while sending a terrible signal to the kinds of businesses the state is seeking to lure away from heavy-handed regulators in places like Sacramento and Albany.

“SB 7072 and its House companion bill H 7013 would prohibit social media companies from removing content from political officeholders or candidates. This essentially mandates tech companies to host any and all speech and violates their right to free expression and association. Ironically, this is the same logic behind the ‘Fairness Doctrine’ from years ago, which was ultimately used to silence conservative talk radio hosts.

“While the intent of this legislation is certainly to promote more speech online, it comes at the cost of undermining the speech and association rights of private entities. Weakening these rights for some erodes them for all in the long run, setting a dangerous precedent for future governments in Florida and throughout the country to regulate speech far more aggressively and in ways sure to make both sides of the aisle upset.

“In addition, entrepreneurs and investors in the tech sector and beyond will be hesitant to invest in a state where their rights hinge on political winds. Florida is already on the right path towards addressing problems with the tech sector, establishing itself a destination for new investment and entrepreneurship to compete with existing firms. SB 7072 and H 7013 deviate hard from this successful approach.”

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Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to educating the public through the research, analysis and dissemination of information on the government’s effects on the economy.