Critics slam Florida's law banning Big Tech 'de-platforming' as 'unconstitutional'

Critics are questioning the constitutionality of Florida's new law that aims to hold social media companies accountable for "de-platforming" political candidates.

Critics are questioning the constitutionality of Florida's new, first-of-its-kind law that aims to hold social media companies accountable for "de-platforming" political candidates. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the controversial Senate Bill 7072 into law Monday, which imposes fines of $250,000 per day on any social media company that de-platforms candidates for statewide office and $25,000 per day for de-platforming candidates running for local office, according to a statement from the Republican governor's office. DeSantis, an ally of former President Donald Trump, first signaled his support of the legislation in early February -- shortly after social media companies cracked down on Trump's accounts citing risks of violence in the wake of the Jan. 6 mob at the U.S. Capitol building. Trump is now a resident of Florida. "If Big Tech censors enforce rules inconsistently, to discriminate in favor of the dominant Silicon Valley ideology, they will now be held accountable," DeSantis said in a statement shortly after signing the bill into law.