United States of America: Filed brief by 21 US Attorney Generals defending federal government’s ability to communicate with social media companies about dangerous online content (Missouri v Biden)

On 28 July 2023, 21 US Attorney Generals filed an amicus brief before the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit challenging the ruling by the US District Court for the Western District of Louisiana of 4 July 2023. The ruling had imposed a ban on dozens of federal officials and agencies from engaging in communication with social media companies regarding harmful online content. In particular, the brief requests the Court of Appeals to reverse the district court’s decision arguing that the decision sets a dangerous precedent, hindering the government's ability to keep Americans safe online. The brief emphasises the importance of open dialogue between social media companies and government officials, particularly during critical events such as public health emergencies and elections. The brief also outlines examples of productive communication with social media platforms that have proven effective in protecting the public interest by addressing online safety issues and preventing misinformation.