Watchdog Group Files Amicus Brief Defending Mississippian Social Media Users

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kara Zupkus (224)-456-0257

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) filed an amicus brief at the Supreme Court supporting NetChoice’s emergency application for relief in litigation over Mississippi’s House Bill 1126. The law imposes onerous age verification rules on millions of Mississippian social media users and requires social media companies to devise strategies for keeping “harmful” content away from minors.

TPA President David Williams issued the following statement:

“Granting emergency relief is critical to protecting free speech in Mississippi. We hope that our  brief furthers this goal and sends a strong message to other states that restrictions on anonymity rights will not be tolerated. Social media platforms allow millions of consumers the opportunity to make their voices heard without fear of wrath or reprisal. A fundamental tenet of free speech is anonymity, a long-cherished right indispensable to the American project. From the Founding Fathers using pen names to make their case for the Constitution to civil rights groups keeping their membership rolls private, anonymous speech has done much to make America what it is today. This right is under attack by Mississippi’s law.

“The bill’s backers claim that age verification technologies can be used safely without sacrificing user privacy or anonymity. The events of the past week prove this is clearly not the case. Millions of vulnerable Tea app customers thought their identities were safe, but that illusion was shattered by a devastating breach. H.B. 1126 and similar laws will make the digital domain a less safe place — the opposite of Mississippi’s stated aims.

“We hope the Supreme Court defends the First Amendment by granting Mississippi social media customers much-needed relief. TPA will continue to fight for a safer and freer internet.”