Why the former president is suing Facebook, Twitter, and Google — as well as their CEOs.
Former President Trump is taking his fight with big tech up a notch: He’s now suing Facebook, Twitter, and Google — as well as their CEOs — for kicking him off their platforms earlier this year.
Here’s what you need to know.
Why is Trump suing Facebook, Twitter, and Google?
The three class-action lawsuits are asking a federal court in Florida to force the companies to allow Trump back on their platforms, claiming unfair censorship and a violation of his First Amendment rights. They also question the constitutionality of a section of the Communications Decency Act that protects tech companies from being held liable for anything that’s posted on their platforms.
Why was Trump banned from Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube?
Trump’s latest legal battle marks an escalation in his long-standing feud with the social media platforms he used to drive support both before and during his presidency. But after a mob of his supporters attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, Twitter banned Trump permanently, while Facebook issued a two-year suspension, and Google-owned YouTube removed him indefinitely over concerns of risking further violence.
Will Trump win these lawsuits?
“It has zero chance of success,” Brian Fitzpatrick, a law professor at Vanderbilt University, told us. While Trump claims the social media bans are unconstitutional, Fitzpatrick explained that the Constitution’s restrictions of the government don’t apply to these kinds of private companies. “No court will accept these arguments,” he added, “and I say that both as a conservative and as someone who supports class action lawsuits.”
Another rallying cry?
Immediately after his lawsuits went public, Trump’s supporters began fundraising off the move.
