Federal Judge Rejects Biden Administration’s Attempt to Halt Lawsuit Against Media Censorship.
A lawsuit alleging that the State Department favored left-leaning media outlets over conservative ones is progressing despite the Biden administration’s attempt to dismiss it. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, along with The Daily Wire and The Federalist, filed the lawsuit, claiming that the State Department-funded technologies that blacklist conservative media. The lawsuit argues that the State Department used its Global Engagement Center to finance left-wing media monitoring organizations, including NewsGuard and the Global Disinformation Index, violating Texas state law and the First Amendment.
U.S. District Judge Jeremy Kernodle in Tyler, Texas, ruled that the plaintiffs had standing to challenge the State Department’s actions. Kernodle denied the Biden administration’s request to dismiss the suit, rejected its request to move the case to a different venue, and ordered expedited discovery. The ruling highlighted allegations that the State Department encouraged social media companies to “deplatform” The Daily Wire and The Federalist, violating Texas law.
Margot Cleveland, an attorney at the New Civil Liberties Alliance representing The Daily Wire and The Federalist, stated that the ruling is an important first step in halting the State Department’s actions. Paxton’s office hailed the ruling as a victory against the Biden administration’s attempt to censor the press.
The lawsuit contends that taxpayer dollars were used to fund companies that have targeted conservative media by limiting ad revenue. GDI, for example, offers a “Dynamic Exclusion List” of global media outlets deemed risky for disinformation, including prominent conservative outlets. The suit alleges that the State Department promoted GDI and NewsGuard, which also received State Department funding,to suppress conservative media.
NewsGuard, founded by Democrat activist Steven Brill, has faced criticism for bias against conservative media. The Media Research Center found that NewsGuard ratings favored liberal outlets. However, NewsGuard defended its work with the U.S. government to counter disinformation campaigns.
Concerns over NewsGuard’s impact on media led Congress to prohibit the Pentagon from awarding military recruitment advertising to agencies using services like NewsGuard. President Biden signed this provision into law last December.