Legislation aimed at enhancing accountability for government censorship has been introduced by Senators Ted Cruz and Ron Wyden. Named the Justice Against Weaponized Bureaucratic Overreach to Networked Expression (JAWBONE) Act, the proposal seeks to allow citizens to take legal action against government entities involved in attempts to influence or pressure private companies regarding speech moderation.
Under the proposed legislation, plaintiffs could claim monetary damages for any government agency or employee's attempts at censorship, even if those efforts were not successful. Currently, individuals can only seek injunctions to prevent future violations. The bill also mandates that federal agencies disclose communications with private companies related to these complaints, aiming to bolster transparency and accountability.
While both senators support the bill, they have exchanged criticisms regarding which administration is more culpable for censorship. Cruz has accused the Biden administration of utilizing the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to pressure tech companies, while Wyden pointed to actions taken during the Trump administration as significant examples of coercive tactics against private entities.