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Florida law seeks to rein in large social media companies

But the tech lobbying group NetChoice, which includes Twitter and Facebook as members, criticized the new law in a press release.

“By forcing websites to host speech, this bill takes us closer to a state-run internet where the government can cherry pick winners and losers,” said NetChoice vice president and lawyer Carl Szabo. “By carving out companies like Disney and Universal, Florida’s legislature revealed its anti-tech fervor and true intent to punish social media for allegations of anti-conservative bias.”

The law will give Florida’s attorney general authority to sue companies under the state’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. It will also allow individual Floridians to sue social media companies for up to $100,000 if they feel they’ve been treated unfairly.