News

The Biden Administration is Subject to Supreme Court Rulings in its Social Media Dispute with Reactionary States.

Published

5 months ago

2024-06-26

Salman Ahmad

(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

(VOR News) – In a disagreement with Republican-led states on Wednesday, the Supreme Court agreed with the Biden administration on the scope of federal authority to block contentious social media posts about COVID-19 and election security.

The justices 6-3 rejected lower-court rulings that favored Louisiana, Missouri, and other parties, notwithstanding their claims that Democratic administration officials unconstitutionally restricted conservative ideas through the use of social media.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett of the Supreme Court came to the conclusion that states and other bodies did not have the authority to bring legal action. Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Clarence Thomas all disagreed.

It should not impact typical users or postings on social media.

The Supreme Court is now considering a number of issues this term that deal with social media companies’ freedom of speech. In February, the court discussed Republican-passed legislation prohibiting big social media sites from deleting political information.

Social media usage was restricted by the Supreme Court in March.

In accordance with the Wednesday ruling and the court proceedings regarding state legislation, conservative views are prohibited from being freely expressed on platforms.

The states asserted that “unrelenting pressure” was applied to erase social media postings by the FBI, the cybersecurity agency, the surgeon general, and the White House communications team.

The comments made during the March arguments unnerved the judges, and a few of them warned that a state win may change the platform contacts of public servants.

The Biden administration made it clear that it would not be allowed to interact with social media companies on matters pertaining to election integrity, public health, national security, or posts that are antisemitic or anti-Muslim.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the Supreme Court ruling made sense because it allows the Biden Administration to keep working with tech companies to protect Americans after years of irrational and extreme attacks on public servants by the Republican Party.

Attorney General Liz Murrill of Louisiana called the decision “disappointing and unfortunate.” The committee, according to Murrill, “allows the federal government to threaten tech platforms into censorship and suppression of First Amendment-protected speech.” The majority overturned “the worst government coercion ever”.

The justices rejected the administration’s and the states’ arguments in their judgment on Wednesday.

“We commence and conclude with standing,” Barrett wrote. “Neither the state plaintiffs nor the individual plaintiffs are permitted to pursue an injunction against any defendant.” Consequently, our lack of authority prevents us from resolving the matter.

Alito disagreed, claiming that the states proved they could litigate the case. “For months, Facebook was subjected to pressure from senior government officials to censor Americans.” In his letter to the three minority justices, he stated, “I respectfully dissent because the Supreme Court unjustifiably refuses to address this serious threat to the First Amendment.”

While some proponents of free expression applauded the ruling, others questioned the court’s guidelines.

Knight First Amendment Institute litigation director Alex Abdo said the Supreme Court must distinguish between legal and unlawful attempts to influence and coerce platforms. The availability of this advice would have been especially helpful in the months leading up to the election.”

A DHS disinformation committee was to be headed by Nina Jankowicz in 2022, the target of the complaint. In a matter of weeks, the commission disbanded over concerns about free speech and conspiracy theories.

Jankowicz, an expert in disinformation, claims that the Supreme Court acted as expected. She also noted how hard it is to undo litigation damage.

She said, “Unfortunately, there is a vast segment of the American populace that now believes the government is censoring a portion of the population in collaboration with independent researchers.”

In the near future, it seems unlikely that there will be one.

Social media corporations have removed hate and misinformation filters in tandem with the Supreme Court’s ruling.

Certain accounts that were banned due to conspiracy theories and extremism have been reinstated by Elon Musk’s X. Users are now in charge of keeping an eye out for misinformation after the platform eliminated misinformation squads.

Experts predict that political pressure to cut such teams could make election-related social media fraud worse in 2024 than it was in 2020.

Facebook and Instagram’s parent company, Meta, has retired from the news and political sectors following years of allegations that it mishandles material and incites political violence.

An appeals court in New Orleans was asked to rule on whether the government had illegally coerced media websites. According to the Supreme Court of Appeals, officials cannot be convicted of coercing or substantially encouraging alterations to online materials.

This term, the Fifth Circuit has rejected conservative rulings six times. On Monday, the court overturned a 5th Circuit panel’s decision and upheld the ban on weapons for domestic abuse victims.

In June, the court ruled unanimously that doctors who oppose abortion had no legal standing to contest the FDA’s approval of mifepristone.

News

Trudeau Rocks to Taylor Swift While Montreal Burns

Published

23 hours ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come under fire yet again after a video surfaced on X, showing him dancing at a Taylor Swift performance while anti-Nato protestors ransacked downtown Montreal.

Trudeau attended Taylor Swift’s concert in Toronto on Friday night. Before Taylor Swift approached the stage, X shared a viral video of him dancing and singing along to the song “You Don’t Own Me.”

The image of Trudeau dancing amid violent protests in Montreal generated widespread indignation online. Some social media users even compared Trudeau to the ancient Roman dictator Nero, known for “fiddling while Rome burned.”

Don Stewart, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing part of Toronto, called out the prime minister in a post on X.

Lawless protestors run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest.

The Prime Minister dances.

This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.

Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved. pic.twitter.com/PVJvR6gtmf

— Don Stewart (@donstewartmp) November 23, 2024

“Lawless protesters run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest. The Prime Minister dances,” Stewart wrote. “This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.”

“Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved,” the MP added.

On Saturday, the day after Taylor Swift’s concert, Trudeau condemned the anti-NATO protests, calling them “appalling.”

Anti-NATO activists set off smoke bombs and marched through Montreal’s streets waving Palestinian flags. According to the Montreal Gazette, rioters set fire to automobiles and battled with police.

Pro-Palestinian protests

Protesters also tossed tiny explosives and metal objects at officers. At one point, the mob torched an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the gathering, and three persons were arrested for attacking officers and impeding police operations.

Masked protesters were seen burning flares and bashing storefront windows in videos and photographs shared on social media. Pro-Palestinian protests have been taking place across Canada since the Israel-Gaza conflict began late last year.

Critics have lambasted Trudeau for doing nothing to stop the violent pro-Palestinian marches, with some claiming he has fueled anti-Israel sentiment in Canada.

On Friday, Trudeau stated that Canada would respect the orders of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu, even if it meant arresting the Israeli prime leader on Canadian soil.

Trudeau Called the Greatest Threat to NATO

Trudeau Called the Greatest Threat to NATO

News

Calgary Zoo Admits Human Error in Death of Baby Gorilla

Published

23 hours ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

The zookeeper's negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla

The Calgary Zoo has admitted in a public statement that a zookeeper’s negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla. Eyare, a newborn gorilla, died last week after being slammed in the head by a hydraulic door.

The accident occurred when a zoo worker attempted to separate Eyare from the rest of the gorilla tribe for a solitary training session.

The gorilla died from significant head injuries, according to the zoo’s statement.

“This tragedy has struck us all in the deepest way imaginable,” Colleen Baird, director of animal care at the Calgary Zoo, said during a news conference. “Eyare’s brief but meaningful existence gave so much joy to our community, and all will sorely miss her. We will do everything possible to prevent repeat accidents.”

According to Baird, the staff member involved was immediately removed from the workplace and will be reassigned to another area of the zoo. The Calgary Zoo stated that it would take preventive steps, such as specialist personnel training and animal behavioral training, to avoid a similar incident.

Calgary Zoo Questioned

It is not the first time an animal at the zoo has died from negligence at the Calgary Zoo. A capybara was accidentally crushed by a hydraulic door similar to the one that killed Eyare in 2019.

An otter died in 2016 after being entangled in an “unauthorized” pair of jeans that a zookeeper had dropped in its enclosure. In 2013, a penguin died in “a freak accident” after swallowing a stick.

Animal Justice, a Canadian group that promotes animal welfare, has called for an independent investigation of animal safety and oversight at the Alberta facility.

“The Calgary Zoo appears to have a higher rate of animal deaths compared to other zoos, and in light of Eyare’s death there should be a systematic review of the zoo’s operations and practices, conducted transparently by the government or another outside party,” according to Camille Labchuk, the executive director of Animal Justice.

The Calgary Zoo refuted that it has more animal deaths than other zoos, emphasizing that it adheres to operating requirements and has maintained accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ independent Accreditation Commission since 1978.

“We love and care for more than 4,000 animals representing over 100 species that call our zoo home,” stated a Calgary Zoo representative.

“Human error-related deaths in animals are quite infrequent. We have lost two animals in the last ten years: a North American river otter in 2016 and ‘Eyare’ this week.

While rare, even one human-caused death is too many. These unfortunate instances have served as vital learning experiences, prompting us to examine and tighten protocols to provide the greatest level of care.”

Baird said at the news conference that using hydraulic doors is “common practice with accredited zoos,” adding that the facility will consider switching to alternate doors to improve safety.

The Calgary Zoo, which established the Wilder Institute in 2021, caters to nearly 4,000 creatures, including six more western lowland gorillas.

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News

Canada’s Lotto Max Jackpot Climbs to $80M

Published

24 hours ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

Lotto Max in Canada has reached $80 million for only the second time in Canadian lottery history. Friday’s draw sought a winner for a $75 million pool, but the top reward remained unclaimed as of Saturday, increasing the jackpot.

Only once did the jackpot reach $80 million in September, when it broke the previous record. Before that, the prize was $75 million, a record.

The Lotto Max prize maximum was boosted earlier this year, enabling for jackpots of more than $70 million. The cap is now at $80 million.
While a greater fee may encourage more people to play, the odds of winning the lottery remain extremely low.

According to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the odds for a $5 ticket are around one in 33,294,800.

While there was no jackpot winner in Friday’s draw, someone did match six of the seven winning numbers, plus a bonus, earning them a payout of more than $320,000.

Lotto Max History

Lotto Max is one of three national lottery games in Canada, overseen by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. The game was introduced on September 19, 2009, and its inaugural draw occurred on September 25, 2009. It replaced Lotto Super 7.

The odds of winning the Lotto Max are 1 in 33,294,800. This is correct to a point but misleading.

Let’s have a look at the rules:

Players choose 7 numbers out of 50
Numbers cannot be repeated
Numbers are automatically sorted into ascending order
Each play buys 3 lines
Each play costs $5

Seeing that players choose 7 out of 50 non-repeating numbers, the equation for the total number of possible combinations (this is different from permutations where the order in which the numbers appear is significant) when playing the Lotto Max is 50! / (7! x 43!)