Ted Cruz and Ron Wyden Try to Fight Censorship with Bipartisan JAWBONE Act
The measure would let Americans sue for damages and force agencies to disclose communications with platforms, AI providers and broadcasters.
- On Thursday, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz and Democratic Senator Ron Wyden introduced the Justice Against Weaponized Bureaucratic Overreach to Networked Expression Act, which prohibits government agencies from coercing private companies into censoring speech.
- The legislation targets "jawboning," a practice where officials pressure private companies to alter or suppress protected speech, reflecting bipartisan concerns about government influence over social media, AI systems, and broadcasters.
- To ensure accountability, the bill requires agencies to disclose communications with tech and media companies via a public portal and allows citizens to sue for compensatory damages and attorney fees.
- Plaintiffs could seek monetary damages even if the government's attempt to coerce a company into censoring speech failed, while the Justice Department must defend employees unless they acted in a "willful and wanton" manner.
- Endorsed by a diverse coalition including the American Civil Liberties Union and the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression , the bipartisan bill aims to address persistent government pressure, though its prospects in Congress remain uncertain.
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12 Articles
Bipartisan bill introduced to thwart FCC censorship of free speech
Senator Ted Cruz speaks to conference attendees in 2019. (Photo by Gage Skidmore) A bipartisan pair of senators have introduced legislation that would give American citizens the power to sue federal officials and government agencies when they are accused of abusing their power to censor constitutionally-protected speech and expression. The proposal, known as the Justice Against Weaponized Bureaucratic Overreach to Networked Expression (JAWBONE) …
The JAWBONE Act Would Finally Make Government Pay for Bullying Companies Into Censorship - Americans for Tax Reform
Americans for Tax Reform is strongly endorsing new legislation that would finally give regular citizens real recourse when government officials pressure private companies to silence speech they dislike. Senators Ted Cruz and Ron Wyden introduced the JAWBONE Act — short for Justice Against Weaponized Bureaucratic Overreach to Networked Expression Act. The bill would create a clear legal path for Americans to sue government agencies and employees …
Bipartisan bill targets government censorship threats
A Biden-era push to remove certain social media posts about COVID-19 and the 2020 election and more recent pressure by the Trump administration against TV broadcasters have brought together a bipartisan Senate duo to try and prevent indirect government censorship. Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. unveiled legislation Thursday that would prohibit government agencies from “jawboning” Americans through social m…
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