The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA), a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit, has filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court in support of NetChoice’s emergency application for relief regarding Mississippi’s House Bill 1126. The law introduces strict age verification requirements for social media users in Mississippi and mandates that platforms develop methods to shield minors from “harmful” content.
David Williams, president of TPA, commented on the filing:
“Granting emergency relief is critical to protecting free speech in Mississippi. We hope that our brief furthers this goal and sends a strong message to other states that restrictions on anonymity rights will not be tolerated. Social media platforms allow millions of consumers the opportunity to make their voices heard without fear of wrath or reprisal. A fundamental tenet of free speech is anonymity, a long-cherished right indispensable to the American project. From the Founding Fathers using pen names to make their case for the Constitution to civil rights groups keeping their membership rolls private, anonymous speech has done much to make America what it is today. This right is under attack by Mississippi’s law.
“The bill’s backers claim that age verification technologies can be used safely without sacrificing user privacy or anonymity. The events of the past week prove this is clearly not the case. Millions of vulnerable Tea app customers thought their identities were safe, but that illusion was shattered by a devastating breach. H.B. 1126 and similar laws will make the digital domain a less safe place — the opposite of Mississippi’s stated aims.
“We hope the Supreme Court defends the First Amendment by granting Mississippi social media customers much-needed relief. TPA will continue to fight for a safer and freer internet.”
The Taxpayers Protection Alliance Foundation advocates for government transparency through public education efforts including research, investigative reporting, and analysis about taxation and government spending at all levels since its founding in 2011.
