DeSantis signs Florida's moderation law and defends its protections
Ron DeSantisGovernor of Florida
DeSantis argues that the law will hold platforms accountable for inconsistent rules and ideological discrimination.
“If Big Tech censors enforce rules inconsistently, to discriminate in favor of the dominant Silicon Valley ideology, they will now be held accountable.”
Official statement
Where this statement fits
NetChoice challenges Florida and Texas social-media moderation laws
Florida and Texas enacted restrictions on social-media moderation in 2021. Texas defends HB20 as an antidiscrimination law; NetChoice argues it compels private speech. The Supreme Court sent both cases back in 2024. The later rulings described here do not establish the laws' present enforceability.
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
DeSantis defends the law as a response to inconsistent platform enforcement and ideological discrimination. This is the signing statement, not a statement about later court outcomes.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
DeSantis issued the statement when signing Florida's platform law in May 2021.
After the quotation
His statement describes intended protections and remedies, not the law's status after later litigation.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The issue is Florida SB7072 and Texas HB20 restrictions on platform content moderation. He expressly supports and signs the moderation restrictions under scrutiny.
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More from this case
Read the full caseTexas defends HB20 as an antidiscrimination law
“The Fifth Circuit correctly held, however, that HB20 regulates the platforms’ conduct, not their expression.”Read statement
NetChoice and CCIA argue HB20 violates the First Amendment
NetChoice
“Texas House Bill 20 (“HB20”) is an extraordinary assertion of governmental power over expression that violates the First Amendment in multiple ways.”Read statement
Abbott signs HB20 and defends viewpoint protections
“proud to sign House Bill 20 into law to protect first amendment rights in the Lone Star State”Read statement
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- DeSantis signs Florida's moderation law and defends its protections
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The Dispute Index. "DeSantis signs Florida's moderation law and defends its protections". First published: 2026-10-16. Last updated: 2026-10-16. https://disputeindex.com/events/5828-desantis-argues-that-the-law-will-hold-platforms