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No. 23-411October Term 2023Decided Jun 26, 2024

Docket 23-411October Term 2023 (2023–2024)

Vivek H. Murthy, Surgeon General, et al., Petitioners v. Missouri, et al.

The Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit alleging the federal government coerced social media platforms into censoring speech, ruling that the plaintiffs lacked standing to sue.

Case status

Current stage
Decided
Latest event
Decision released Jun 26, 2024
Case AcceptedOct 20, 2023
Arguments HeardMar 18, 2024
Decision ReleasedJun 26, 2024
What it's about

The Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit alleging the federal government coerced social media platforms into censoring speech, ruling that the plaintiffs lacked standing to sue. The Court held the plaintiffs failed to prove their content restrictions were caused by government pressure rather than the platforms' independent policies.

Question presented

Did the federal government’s request that private social media companies take steps to prevent the dissemination of purported misinformation transform those companies’ content-moderation decisions into state action and thus violate users’ First Amendment rights?

Case path

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit / Decision released Jun 26, 2024

Area

First Amendment