New York
Though not necessarily a “censorship” law per se, New York is leading the charge among a handful of states trying to pass legislation that would, in effect, force social media companies to take a more heavy-handed approach to content moderation. The state’s recently passed law will require all social media companies operating in the state to maintain a reporting mechanism for individuals to report instances of hateful conduct. Under the law, social media companies must directly respond to anyone who reports hate speech incidents. Companies found in violation of the law can expect civil penalties and fines of up to $1,000 per day.
Tech industry lobbying groups like NetChoice have expressed concerns the New York Law could violate the First Amendment because its definition of hateful content is overly broad.
“The temptation for the government to step in is incredibly high no matter where you live,” NetChoice counsel Chris Marchese said. Though passed, New York’s law isn’t expected to take effect until December.
