DeSantis Proposes Daily $100G Fine, Other Penalties for Big Tech Firms That Deplatform Political Candidates

Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday took aim at the country’s largest technology companies, which he characterized as a group of “monopoly communications platforms” based on the way they have grown to regulate public discourse.

“These platforms have changed from neutral platforms that provided Americans with the freedom to speak, to enforcers of preferred narratives,” DeSantis said during a press conference. “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.”

DeSantis targeted tech companies over content moderation, which he equated to political manipulation, as he reiterated a belief held by many conservatives that Silicon Valley is biased against viewpoints emanating from the right.

In an effort to keep Big Tech out of Florida’s political sphere, DeSantis proposed a number of measures including a $100,000 daily fine for companies that deplatform political candidates. {snip}

DeSantis proposed measures to enhance user rights as well, including allowing individuals and the Florida attorney general to sue companies over violations of individual protections, as well as requiring companies to provide full disclosures of actions taken against individuals for violating policies.

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