Overview
- The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression announced its endorsement of the JAWBONE Act on Thursday, June 11, 2026, and said it was joining a coalition that includes the ACLU, Knight First Amendment Institute and Public Knowledge.
- The bill, introduced by Sens. Ted Cruz and Ron Wyden, would create a private right of action for Americans to sue federal officials who coerce social media companies, AI services or broadcasters to remove or suppress protected speech.
- Supporters point to court records from Murthy v. Missouri showing extensive government contacts with platforms over Covid and election content and to a cited case in which the Trump administration threatened broadcasters over programming as evidence of coercive pressure.
- In addition to legal claims, the JAWBONE Act would require agencies to publicly report communications with platforms so victims can learn whether officials contacted companies about their content.
- If enacted, the law could change how federal agencies and private platforms interact by raising the cost of pressure, creating a public record of contacts and giving ordinary users a path to seek redress for coerced moderation.