APFI Takes Big Tech to Court 

Today, the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) announced two legal actions against Big Tech, including the filing of an amicus brief with the United States Supreme Court on behalf of former President Donald J. Trump and a second case in Texas against Meta, the parent company of Instagram, following its decision to suspend and delete AFPI’s account on January 10, 2024.

“Big Tech used its power to censor the former President of the United States and earlier this month tried to censor the America First Policy Institute after posts concerning Hunter Biden, it seems like 2020 all over again, and we are going to fight at every level to stop Big Tech from silencing America First patriots,” said Brooke Rollins, President and CEO of the America First Policy Institute. “Silicon Valley appears to be back to its old tricks of blocking the truth if it goes against their woke beliefs, our lawsuit in Texas and brief before the Supreme Court seeks to stop them from censoring conservatives again in another election year.”

AFPI’s brief in the Supreme Court on behalf of President Donald J. Trump in NetChoice v. Moody argues that Big Tech companies “apply censorship, de-platforming, and shadow banning standards in a consistent manner among its users on the platform.” It compares Big Tech companies with common carriers, such as railroads and airlines, that are required by law and legal precedent to treat all customers equally and are prohibited from refusing service to some while providing it to others.

The additional lawsuit, filed in Tarrant County, Texas, against Meta, seeks a court order prohibiting the company from screening posts for conservative content and taking action against the accounts. In addition to suspending, then later restoring AFPI’s Instagram account earlier this year following posts about Hunter Biden, the suit highlights another account that was also suspended on the same day after posting similar content.

“This is not just about AFPI,” added Rollins. “Big Tech is using its power to silence with whom it disagrees from exercising their First Amendment rights in the modern public square. They did it in 2020, and we hope to stop them from doing it again in 2024.”

AFPI’s amicus brief with the Supreme Court can be found here.

AFPI’s suit against Meta can be found here.