SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — X Corp is suing California Attorney General Robert Bonta, challenging the state's social media content law.
X Corp filed a complaint Sept. 8 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern Disrict of California against Robert A. Bonta, Attorney General of California, in his official capacity alleging violation of the First Amendment and other claims.
X Corp, in its complaint, is challenging the constitutionally of California's Assembly Bill No. 587, claiming the law violates the First Amendment because it interferes with social media companies' constitutionally protected editorial judgements.
It alleges AB 587 requires them to post terms "dictated by the government" as well as requires social media companies to submit semi-annual reports to California's Attorney General regarding how they moderate hate speech or racism and harassment among other requirements.
X Corp further alleges the law pressures them to remove constitutionally protected speech that the state "deems undesirable or harmful." They claim the bill also forces social media companies to speak against their will about highly "controversial and politically charged" topics and is a "impermissible attempt" by the state to "inject itself" into content and the editorial process.
X Corp seeks monetary relief, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by William Warne and Meghan Baker of Downey Brand LLP in Sacramento and Joel Kurtzberg, Floyd Abrams, Jason Rozbruch and Lisa Cole of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP in New York City.