Twitter denounces Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton

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Twitter filed a lawsuit against Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in a California federal court Monday and asked a judge to detain the state’s top attorney to investigate the company.

The social media giant’s court records include a request for a temporary restraining order that would prevent Paxton and his firm from filing a lawsuit requesting documents revealing the company’s internal decision-making processes to ban users, among other things.

Paxton, a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump, sent the company a civil investigation lawsuit after he banned Trump from his platform after the deadly January siege of the U.S. Capitol.

Twitter wrote that it intended to prevent Paxton from “illegally abusing his authority as the chief law enforcement officer of Texas State to intimidate, harass and attack Twitter in retaliation for the exercise of Twitter of their rights of first amendment “. The company claimed that Paxton’s “retaliation” investigation violated the First Amendment as an inappropriate use of government authority.

A Paxton spokesman did not immediately respond to comments.

Prior to the inauguration of Democratic President Joe Biden, Paxton filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn election results in four battlefield states. It was considered a long shot, but garnered the support of Republican attorneys general from 17 other states before the U.S. Supreme Court quickly rejected it.

The attorney general is among Texas Republican leaders who have launched a campaign against technology and social media companies after officials and supporters had repercussions for sowing electoral doubts that fueled the Capitol insurgency.

Twitter is one of five technology and social media companies to which Paxton issued civil investigation lawsuits to learn about the procedures these companies use to regulate posts or user accounts.

Paxton, who attended the rally that preceded the U.S. Capitol attack, criticized the moves of companies after the siege, which included Twitter banning Trump from his platform.

“The seemingly coordinated disappearance of the president of the United States and several leading voices not only cools freedom of speech, but completely silences those whose speeches and political beliefs do not match the leaders of high-tech companies.” , Paxton said in January. 13 press release.

Last week, Gov. Greg Abbott unveiled Texas legislation that seeks to crack down on perceived censorship by conservative-voiced social media. Senate Bill 12 would prohibit social media companies (including Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube) from blocking, banning, monetizing, or discriminating against a user based on their point of view or location in Texas.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who chairs the Texas Senate, has identified the bill as one of his 31 priorities for this legislative session. State Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, sponsors the measure. He introduced a similar bill in 2019 that got Senate approval, but died on a state House committee.

In its presentations on Monday, Twitter detailed the suspension of several accounts, including Trump’s personal account, which were banned for its false claims about the presidential election and the Jan. 6 attacks on the U.S. Capitol. Five days after the president’s Twitter account was suspended on Jan. 8, Paxton sent the civil investigation lawsuits to Twitter and four other technology and social media companies.

In the lawsuit, Twitter said that while the company “strives for transparency,” public disclosure of these documents “would compromise Twitter’s ability to effectively and efficiently moderate the content of its platform.”

Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms have been attacked for spreading misinformation and spreading violence like the January 6 attacks. Last year, Democratic lawmakers introduced a congressional bill that would require social media companies the responsibility to amplify that content, but the proposal gained little strength.

Twitter’s lawsuit comes as Paxton faces a number of other legal issues, including allegations of abuse of office and bribery. Former aides alleged that the attorney general used his power to help an Austin real estate developer in legal matters after he helped Paxton remodel his home and employ a woman with whom Paxton allegedly had a adventure. According to reports, the complainants’ allegations have triggered an FBI investigation.

Four of the former aides claim they were fired in retaliation for telling authorities they believed Paxton had done illegal favors to a political donor and that they are suing. During a March 1 whistleblower hearing, which Paxton did not attend, attorneys representing his office argued that Paxton is not a public employee and cannot be sued under the Whistleblower Act. Texas. The attorney general has previously dismissed the claims against him as “false allegations” by “rogue employees.”