EO: RESTORING FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND ENDING FEDERAL CENSORSHIP
TL;DR
This EO is directed to federal agencies to stop engaging in online censorship [most likely Trump is butt hurt over his fake news rants getting flagged] and to review past actions where the government may have pressured platforms to remove content. It is framed as a defense of the First Amendment, criticizing previous government efforts to combat misinformation as a violation of free speech [which is wild…fake news should be monitored or at least identified].
Authority & Purpose:
The President is using their authority under the Constitution and federal law to issue this order.
The order states that the First Amendment guarantees free speech and accuses the previous administration of suppressing speech on online platforms by pressuring social media companies to censor certain content.
It argues that such actions were unconstitutional and unacceptable in a free society.
Policy Goals:
The order sets out four main policies:
Protect the free speech rights of Americans.
Prevent government officials from infringing on those rights.
Ensure taxpayer money is not used to support unconstitutional censorship.
Investigate and correct past government censorship actions.
Actions to End Censorship:
No government agency or official can engage in or support censorship.
The Attorney General must investigate past government actions related to speech suppression and report to the President with recommendations for corrective measures.
Limitations & Legal Considerations:
The order does not override existing laws or the authority of government agencies.
Implementation depends on available funding.
It does not create any legal rights for individuals to sue the government.