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Federal judge BANS Biden administration members from meeting with social media companies over accusations they colluded with execs to create an ‘Orwellian Ministry of Truth’ during ‘Covid’


A federal judge on Tuesday blocked key Biden administration agencies and officials from meeting and communicating with Big Tech companies in an extraordinary ruling that could change how social media is used.

In his dramatic ruling on Tuesday, Donald Trump-appointed Judge Terry A. Doughty said that ‘during the COVID-19 pandemic… the United States Government seems to have assumed a role similar to an Orwellian “Ministry of Truth”‘.

The injunction is in response to a lawsuit brought by Republican attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri who claim the government engaged in censorship and shut down conservative voices.

The states argued that government officials went too far in their efforts to encourage social media companies to address posts they worried could contribute to COVID vaccine hesitancy or upend elections.

Government officials argued the contact was necessary to combat misinformation or thwart criminal activity. The case involved President Joe Biden’s White House; Google, led by Sundar Pichai; Twitter led by Elon Musk; and Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, led by Mark Zuckerberg.

The ruling was a victory for Republicans and could curtail efforts to combat false and misleading narratives as Americans prepare for the 2024 presidential election.

Many Republicans, including Trump himself, argued that conservatives were unfairly targeted and had posts removed by social media platforms. They accused Big Tech companies like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube of censoring its critics.

The attorneys general, in their filings, said the government’s actions amount to ‘the most egregious violations of the First Amendment in the history of the United States of America.’

‘Big win for the First Amendment on this Independence Day,’ wrote Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt on Twitter. ‘I’m proud to have led the fight.’

Judge Terry Doughty agreed, ruling the states ‘have produced evidence of a massive effort by Defendants, from the White House to federal agencies, to suppress speech based on its content.’

He ruled parts of the government – including the Department of Health and Human Services, the White House, the Justice Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation – could not talk to social media companies for ‘the purpose of urging, encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner the removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech.’

Specifically named as being barred from contact were Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and all employees of the Justice Department and FBI.

The judge said the agencies and officials could not flag specific posts to the social media platforms or request content be taken down.

The government argued it did not have the authority to order posts or entire accounts removed.

Officials also noted they have long cooperated with Big Tech to take action against illegal or harmful material, especially in cases criminal activities like child sexual abuse or human trafficking or to track potential terrorist activity.

Neither the White House nor Big Tech companies had an immediate comment to the ruling.

Judge Doughty did make an exception to allow communication in cases of national security threats, criminal activity or voter suppression.

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