{"id":910,"date":"2024-05-22T17:09:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-22T17:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatrustedlawyers.com\/blog\/robert-f-kennedy-jr-sues-meta-over-censorship-justia-news-may-22-2024\/"},"modified":"2024-05-23T17:52:57","modified_gmt":"2024-05-23T17:52:57","slug":"robert-f-kennedy-jr-sues-meta-over-censorship-justia-news-may-22-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatrustedlawyers.com\/blog\/robert-f-kennedy-jr-sues-meta-over-censorship-justia-news-may-22-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Sues Meta Over Censorship \u2014 Justia News \u2014 May 22, 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

On Monday, May 13, 2024, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. filed a lawsuit against Meta Platforms, Inc. in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, alleging that Facebook and Instagram censored the \u201cWho is Bobby Kennedy\u201d film.<\/p>\n

American Values 2024, a super PAC supporting Kennedy\u2019s presidential campaign, released \u201cWho is Bobby Kennedy\u201d on May 3, 2024. The thirty-minute film was released online. The complaint states that \u201c[t]he film offers a simple, honest look at Mr. Kennedy\u2019s life, formative experiences, accomplishments, character, and values. . . inviting voters to make up their own minds about Mr. Kennedy.\u201d The film is narrated by actor Woody Harrelson. The complaint alleges that Meta censored the film on Facebook and Instagram \u201c[w]ithin minutes.\u201d The complaint states that Meta blocked and removed the film\u2019s trailer when users attempted to post the trailer on their pages, that Meta prevented users from watching the film or sharing the film, and that Meta prevented users from posting links to the film or the film\u2019s website. The complaint continues on to allege that users received a multitude of different explanations why said actions were prohibited.<\/p>\n

The lawsuit claims that the film was blocked \u201cbecause of the Federal Government\u2019s repeated demands to \u2018block Mr. Kennedy\u2019s efforts to communicate with the public,\u2019. . . because of opposition to Mr. Kennedy\u2019s candidacy, and because the film explains that Mr. Kennedy successfully fought to get harmful mercury out of childhood vaccines.\u201d The complaint points to Missouri v. Biden<\/em> as proof that \u201cMeta has been the government\u2019s censor-in-chief.\u201d The complaint claims that Meta has agreed to censor content that does not violate its policy at the White House\u2019s requests. \u201cAt the urging of, and in conspiracy with, the White House, Meta has by its own admission even censored discussions of constitutional rights and civil liberties, knowing that such speech contained no misinformation and did not otherwise violate any Meta policies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meta provided a statement on May 5, 2024 to the New York Times that the film was censored mistakenly and that the film was no longer being censored on its platforms. However, the complaint alleges that the film is still being censored. \u201cMeta is continuing to throttle, de-boost, demote, and shadow-ban the film.\u201d Furthermore, the complaint claims that \u201cMeta has censored and is still censoring other, entirely unrelated posts supporting the election of Mr. Kennedy.\u201d This continued censorship, according to the complaint, \u201chas caused and is causing substantial donation losses to Mr. Kennedy and AV24, as well as substantial injury to Mr. Kennedy\u2019s candidacy, to Mr. Kennedy\u2019s and AV24\u2019s free speech rights, to Mr. Kennedy\u2019s and AV24\u2019s property rights. . . and to the nation\u2019s paramount interest in a free and fair presidential election.\u201d<\/p>\n

The complaint cites causes of action for: (1) violation of the First Amendment; (2) violation of 42 U.S.C. \u00a7 1985; and (3) violation of 42 U.S.C. \u00a7 1986. The complaint seeks relief in the form of (1) compensatory damages; (2) an injunction; (3) attorneys\u2019 fees and costs; (4) punitive damages; (5) an order requiring Meta to make a public retraction of statements; (6) a declaratory judgment; and (7) other relief deemed just and proper by the court.<\/p>\n

Additional Reading<\/strong><\/p>\n

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sues Meta, citing chatbot\u2019s reply as evidence of shadowban<\/a>, Ars Technica<\/em> (May 16, 2024)<\/p>\n

Kennedy Jr. et al v. Meta Platforms, Inc. et al<\/a><\/em> (Case No. 4:2024cv02869)<\/p>\n

Verified Complaint in Kennedy Jr. et al v. Meta Platforms, Inc. et al<\/em><\/p>\n

Photo Credit: <\/strong>lev radin \/ Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n