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NetChoice Urges Congress to Swiftly Pass Senator Rand Paul’s Free Speech Protection Act

WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced the Free Speech Protection Act, cosponsored by U.S. Senators Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY). This bill is a crucial step to protect Americans’ First Amendment rights from bureaucratic overreach, and NetChoice applauds the Senators’ leadership on this important issue. 

The Free Speech Protection Act boldly confronts government-led censorship, ensuring that federal officials cannot coerce companies into suppressing constitutionally protected speech. 

“The Free Speech Protection Act is a monumental step in safeguarding Americans’ right to free expression, and NetChoice proudly supports it,” said Chris Marchese, NetChoice Director of Litigation. “This bill is a key follow-up to President Trump’s executive order to stop federal censorship, and it sends a clear message: government overreach violating Americans’ protected speech will not be tolerated.”

Marchese continued: “Recent years have shown an alarming pattern of government officials using their positions to silence protected American speech under the guise of fighting ‘misinformation.’ Senator Paul’s bill prevents federal bureaucrats from coercing private platforms into becoming the government’s speech police. Its enforcement mechanisms—including disciplinary measures and a private right of action against government bureaucrats—ensure these protections have real teeth. Congress should move swiftly to pass this vital legislation to preserve both free expression online and platforms’ independence.”

NetChoice has long fought to protect free expression online. Our 2024 Supreme Court case, NetChoice v. Moody, affirmed that the First Amendment protects online services’ ability to determine content moderation policies for their own individual businesses without government interference, ensuring that the internet can remain a dynamic, evolving space for communication and ideas.  

NetChoice urges Congress to swiftly pass this important legislation to uphold the First Amendment and preserve the freedom and independence of online platforms.You can read the bill here.

Please contact press@netchoice.org with inquiries.