THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

Bipartisan bill targets government censorship threats - Roll Call Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., joined with Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, on the bill to address complaints about government censorship. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo) By Allison Mollenkamp Posted June 11, 2026 at 11:50am Facebook Twitter Email Reddit A Biden-era push to remove certain social media posts about COVID-19 and the 2020 election and more recent pressure by the Trump administration against TV broadcasters have brought together a bipartisan Senate duo to try and prevent indirect government censorship. Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. unveiled legislation Thursday that would prohibit government agencies from “jawboning” Americans through social media platforms, artificial intelligence systems or broadcasters. The bill is not the first to attempt to take on jawboning. Sens. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., have both tried before. This effort is new in its bipartisanship. It takes a more comprehensive approach to the issue than Schmitt’s bill. Cruz and Wyden’s as-yet unnumbered bill would set up monetary, but not punitive, damages for individuals or…

Ted Cruz and Ron Wyden try to fight censorship with bipartisan JAWBONE ... Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav US Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today introduced the JAWBONE Act, a proposed law that could fuel lawsuits against federal officials who try to coerce broadcasters or tech platforms into restricting speech. The Justice Against Weaponized Bureaucratic Overreach to Networked Expression Act would prohibit federal agencies and employees from coercing or trying to coerce broadcasters and providers of online services or AI services into changing content. The bill could apply to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr’s repeated attempts to pressure TV networks and broadcasters, or government pressure imposed on social media firms and AI chatbot makers . The bill would create a private right of action for victims of “jawboning,” letting people recover compensatory damages in court. Individuals whose speech is stifled could bring cases against government officials, and the proposed law could be enforced by state attorneys general th…

Two senators offer a bipartisan solution to censorship by proxy President Donald Trump and his allies rightly condemn the Biden administration's censorial meddling with social media, which sought to suppress constitutionally protected speech that federal officials viewed as dangerous. Trump, who issued an executive order aimed at "restoring freedom of speech and ending federal censorship" on the first day of his second term, promised to end such bullying. Yet he has not been shy about using the influence of his office to restrict speech, as illustrated by his demands that ABC punish late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel for saying things he did not like. Sens. Ted Cruz (R–Texas) and Ron Wyden (D–Ore.) have teamed up to offer a more consistent and principled response to the dangers of "jawboning," a form of indirect censorship that operates via government pressure on third parties such as social media platforms and TV networks. On Thursday, Cruz and Wyden introduced the JAWBONE Act, which would allow Americans affected by such pressure to seek damages from officials who exert it. "JAWBONE" stands for "Justice Against Weaponized Bureaucratic Overreach to Networked Expression." While that…

Ted Cruz and Ron Wyden try to fight censorship with bipartisan JAWBONE Act Cruz/Wyden bill would help Americans sue federal officials over censorship.

U.S. senators introduce bill to curb government pressure on protected ... A bipartisan Senate proposal is seeking to create new legal remedies for Americans who say federal officials pressured private companies to suppress protected expression. The measure also aims to increase congressional oversight by requiring agencies to disclose certain communications related to censorship requests. The bill would create a cause of action against any government agency or employee engaged in such conduct, whether or not the censorship effort succeeds, and would allow plaintiffs to seek monetary damages. It also requires agencies to submit certain communications with companies to Congress, a step the sponsors say is meant to strengthen transparency and oversight. The proposal addresses what its backers describe as persistent legal obstacles in these cases, including difficulty obtaining private communications between officials and companies, as well as cases being dismissed when officials leave office or administrations change. The senators say those evidentiary and doctrinal barriers often prevent remedies even when government pressure is alleged to be clear. Wyden says the issue extends b…

Cruz, Wyden Introduce Legislation to Guard First Amendment Speech ... WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today introduced theJustice Against Weaponized Bureaucratic Overreach to Networked Expression Act (JAWBONE) Act, legislation to hold the government accountable for censorship and violations of the First Amendment. Jawboning occurs when the government pressures private companies to censor speech protected by the First Amendment. Americans face significant hurdles in proving these violations. Cases are dismissed when officials leave office or administrations change. Uncovering private communications between government officials and companies is difficult. Evidentiary and doctrinal hurdles preclude remedies even in cases where the government clearly bullied companies into censoring speech. The JAWBONE Act would create a cause of action against any government agency or employee that engages in jawboning, regardless of whether the censorship succeeds, and allow plaintiffs to seek monetary damages. It would also require agencies to submit to Congress certain communications with companies, ultimately strengthe…