Posted: Jan 10, 2021 / 9:02 AM CSTUpdated January 10, 2021 / 9:02 a.m. CST
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – There has been a lot of talk in the past few days about freedom of speech and the first change since Twitter suspended President Donald Trump’s account for the risk of inciting violence.
Legal experts say private corporations don’t fall under the first amendment like the government does, which is why Twitter’s ban on the president is legal.
“It has no application to private speaking, companies like Twitter and Facebook are not subject to First Amendment restrictions like the government,” said attorney Bob Nelon. “It’s a private company, a private platform. You can set your own terms of use and decide who can and can’t use it.”
Those who support the president do not agree with the decision.
“It’s a sad day when Big Tech has more power than Big Government and can censor the President of the United States,” Donald Trump Jr. said in a Facebook video.
According to Nelon, one case that actually involves a debate on the first amendment is about President Trump preventing users from replying to his tweets. The Supreme Court will hear this case soon.
Nelon says that many legal scholars would say this could be a violation of the First Amendment.
“Its action is a government action and, unlike the platform itself, would be covered by the first amendment,” he said.
As for Twitter’s suspension of Trump’s account, “it may be frustrating for the user who wants to use this platform, but it is not against the law,” said Nelon.
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