Free speech concerns mount over DHS 'disinformation' board

[Johnny]

By Kelly Laco
Published April 30, 2022

Federal and state lawmakers, constitutional scholars and other experts
are expressing concerns with the Department of Homeland Security's new
misinformation board, which they say is the Biden administration's
attempt to stifle free speech.

Cut!

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., was quick to condemn this latest action by the
Biden administration, promising to introduce legislation to defund the
new disinformation board.

"The Federal Government has no business creating a Ministry of Truth.
The Department of Homeland Security's "Disinformation Board" is
unconstitutional and unamerican, and I'll be introducing a bill to
defund it," he tweeted Friday.

Cut!

"The same party that spent years promoting the Russia collusion hoax,
suppressed the Hunter Biden laptop story, & equated parents to
terrorists believes it has credibility to control your speech," House
Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., tweeted on Friday. "Biden
must immediately abandon his plan to create an Orwellian Ministry of
Truth."

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/free-speech-concerns-dhs-disinformation-board-lawmakers-critics

Is this misinformation board unconstitutional?

Does the First Amendment forbid all departments of government from
interfering with free speech, or does it just limit what Congress can
do?

What if this board decides to subpoena people and have them explain why
they are spreading disinformation? Would this be unconstitutional?

[Josh Rosenbluth]

Post by Johnny
By Kelly Laco
Published April 30, 2022
Federal and state lawmakers, constitutional scholars and other experts
are expressing concerns with the Department of Homeland Security's new
misinformation board, which they say is the Biden administration's
attempt to stifle free speech.
Cut!
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., was quick to condemn this latest action by the
Biden administration, promising to introduce legislation to defund the
new disinformation board.
"The Federal Government has no business creating a Ministry of Truth.
The Department of Homeland Security's "Disinformation Board" is
unconstitutional and unamerican, and I'll be introducing a bill to
defund it," he tweeted Friday.
Cut!
"The same party that spent years promoting the Russia collusion hoax,
suppressed the Hunter Biden laptop story, & equated parents to
terrorists believes it has credibility to control your speech," House
Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., tweeted on Friday. "Biden
must immediately abandon his plan to create an Orwellian Ministry of
Truth."
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/free-speech-concerns-dhs-disinformation-board-lawmakers-critics
Is this misinformation board unconstitutional?
Does the First Amendment forbid all departments of government from
interfering with free speech, or does it just limit what Congress can
do?
What if this board decides to subpoena people and have them explain why
they are spreading disinformation? Would this be unconstitutional?

The First Amendment applies to all branches and levels of government.
Such a subpoena would be unconstitutional.

That being said, the charge of a "Ministry of Truth" is a talking-point
straw man. It almost certain such a board would do nothing more than
express its opinion that lies are being spread, something that not only
the First Amendment allows, but is the right thing to do (fight bad
speech with more speech).

[Johnny]

On Sat, 30 Apr 2022 10:26:17 -0700

Post by Josh Rosenbluth

Post by Johnny
By Kelly Laco
Published April 30, 2022
Federal and state lawmakers, constitutional scholars and other
experts are expressing concerns with the Department of Homeland
Security's new misinformation board, which they say is the Biden
administration's attempt to stifle free speech.
Cut!
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., was quick to condemn this latest action by
the Biden administration, promising to introduce legislation to
defund the new disinformation board.
"The Federal Government has no business creating a Ministry of
Truth. The Department of Homeland Security's "Disinformation Board"
is unconstitutional and unamerican, and I'll be introducing a bill
to defund it," he tweeted Friday.
Cut!
"The same party that spent years promoting the Russia collusion
hoax, suppressed the Hunter Biden laptop story, & equated parents to
terrorists believes it has credibility to control your speech,"
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., tweeted on Friday.
"Biden must immediately abandon his plan to create an Orwellian
Ministry of Truth."
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/free-speech-concerns-dhs-disinformation-board-lawmakers-critics
Is this misinformation board unconstitutional?
Does the First Amendment forbid all departments of government from
interfering with free speech, or does it just limit what Congress
can do?
What if this board decides to subpoena people and have them explain
why they are spreading disinformation? Would this be
unconstitutional?

The First Amendment applies to all branches and levels of government.
Such a subpoena would be unconstitutional.
That being said, the charge of a "Ministry of Truth" is a
talking-point straw man. It almost certain such a board would do
nothing more than express its opinion that lies are being spread,
something that not only the First Amendment allows, but is the right
thing to do (fight bad speech with more speech).

I don't think an opinion is going to be good enough, they better have
proof. Calling someone a liar can lead to a lawsuit.

I want to see how the board informs the public of what it considers
misinformation. If they setup a website, I will never see it, if it's
done during press conference, I might see it.