RFK Jr. files lawsuit against Biden administration over alleged social media censorship

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RFK Jr. social media censorship class action lawsuit overview: 

• Who: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his anti-vaccine nonprofit Children’s Health Defense have filed a class action lawsuit against dozens of federal officials and agencies, including President Joe Biden. 
• Why: Kennedy claims there has been a government-wide effort to induce Facebook, Twitter, and Google to “censor constitutionally protected speech” on their platforms.
• Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in Louisiana federal court.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has filed a lawsuit accusing dozens of federal agencies and officials — including President Joe Biden — of attempting to induce Facebook, Twitter, and Google to “censor constitutionally protected speech.” 

Kennedy, a noted COVID-19 vaccine critic, argues there has been a government-wide effort to suppress facts about certain topics — including the origin and effects of the COVID-19 vaccine and efficacy of masks. 

Children’s Health Defense, an anti-vaccine nonprofit founded and chaired by Kennedy, is also named as a plaintiff in the lawsuit, which claims the federal government threatened the social media companies with antitrust enforcement action. 

“Through this censorship campaign, federal agents and agencies have encouraged, promoted and induced those (social media) companies to stifle viewpoints that the government disfavors,” the RFK class action states. 

Kennedy wants to represent a nationwide class of consumers who have “consumed news related to COVID-19 or U.S. elections on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube” from January 2020 to present day. 

Kennedy argues government induced companies to ‘suppress facts’ it did not want public to hear

Kennedy, the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy and son of former U.S. Attorney General Robert Kennedy, argues the federal officials and agencies induced the companies to “suppress facts that the government does not want the public to hear.” 

Federal officials also have attempted to “silence” specific speakers — allegedly targeted by name — that were critical of federal policy, the RFK class action alleges. 

Kennedy claims the federal officials and agencies — including Dr. Anthony Fauci and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among others — are guilty of violating the First Amendment. 

Plaintiff is demanding a jury trial and requesting declaratory and injunctive relief along with an award of “such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper.” 

Earlier this month, the Biden administration, concerned with the data safety of Americans,  demanded China-based company ByteDance either sell its popular video hosting platform TikTok or face a nationwide ban. 

Have you found misinformation on Google, Facebook, and Twitter? Let us know in the comments! 

The plaintiffs are represented by G. Shelly Maturin II of the Law Office of G. Shelly Maturin II LLC and Jed Rubenfeld.

The RFK social media censorship class action lawsuit is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., et al. v. Joseph R. Biden Jr., et al., Case No. 3:23-cv-00381, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. 

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