The High Court of the United States is currently deliberating whether government officials can legally block social media critics. This case that has been brought to the attention of the High Court is testing the boundaries between the First Amendment free speech rights of citizens and the government’s responsibility to properly manage and carry out its duties in a fair and democratic manner.
The project began in July of 2019, when the Supreme Court justices heard arguments from two parties bringing the case – the Knight First Amendment Institute and the President himself. The Knight Institute argued that President Donald Trump had issued a “gag order” on social media when he blocked seven Twitter users who had expressed critical views of his policies. The Institute argued that this action was a violation of the First Amendment rights of those individuals, as it restricted their free speech.
The President and his team, on the other hand, argued that blocking someone on a social media platform is similar to “hanging up the phone” on a citizen and that the President had every right to do so. He stated that the defamation against him from those individuals was unproductive and had caused “distractions and disruptions” to his duties as President.
The Supreme Court had a difficult time determining who was in the right as both parties had strong arguments. They asked both sides questions about whether the President was merely exercising executive power or if his actions were violating the rights of citizens. They were also curious about the possible implications of such a decision on other government officials who could be blocked as well.
Ultimately, the Supreme Court decided not to make a formal ruling and instead sent the case back to the lower court for further consideration. The court suggested that the lower courts needed to make a more clear distinction between the President’s use of executive power versus infringing on the First Amendment rights of citizens on social media.
This case is an important one as it will have ramifications on how future government officials use social media. As social media increasingly plays a role in political discourse, it’s imperative that citizens are aware of any potential violations of their Constitutional rights. The Supreme Court’s decision to send the case back to the lower courts shows that they understand the importance of this case and are taking their time to examine all aspects of the case before making a decision. Only time will tell what the ultimate outcome of this case will be, but it’s clear that the High Court is taking a very careful and deliberate approach.