New Bill Targets Government Pressure to Silence Online Speech

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) reports on a new bill introduced in Congress that would prohibit federal agencies from using informal pressure—like letters, calls, or threats—to coerce social media platforms and other services into removing content that is not illegal. The bill, called the 'Stop Government Censorship Act,' requires that any request for content removal must be transparent, subject to judicial review, and based on a valid law. It addresses recent controversies where agencies allegedly influenced platforms to suppress disfavored speech. The EFF supports the bill as a protection of First Amendment rights against bureaucratic overreach.