Things are different in Florida. With a Republican governor running the show, the state has placed much fewer restrictions on their citizens during the coronavirus pandemic, and the state has prospered for it.
Tuesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis showed another way in which he governs differently than his 49 colleagues, as he announced there will be big consequences for big tech companies like Twitter, Facebook and Google if they violate the privacy of Florida citizens and interfere with citizens’ access to candidates during an election.
“Floridians should have the privacy of their data and personal information protected, their ability to access and participate in online platforms protected, and their ability to participate in elections free from interference from big tech protected,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis told media members at a press conference that over the years, the social media companies “have changed from neutral platforms that provided Americans with the freedom to speak to enforcers of preferred narratives. Consequently, these platforms have played an increasingly decisive role in elections and have negatively impacted Americans who dissent from orthodoxies favored by the Big Tech cartel.”
So, just how does he plan on making the tech giants pay a price when they violate his new rules? Under the new measure from the Florida legislature, any big tech brand that de-platform a candidate during an election can look forward to a fine of $100,000, every day, until the candidate’s access to the platform is restored.
There’s more consequences for violators. The new bill empowers the Florida Attorney General to bring action against tech companies under the Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act in Florida.
The battle lines in one state have been established. We’ll find out if a $100K per day fine is something that gets the attention of company’s worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Or more!
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