US seeking to block curbs on government contact with social media firms

Published Jul 10, 2023 03:14PM ET Updated Jul 10, 2023 05:01PM ET
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram apps are seen on a smartphone in this illustration taken, July 13, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
By Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Justice Department on Monday sought to block a judge’s order that barred some federal agencies and officials from communicating with social media firms about moderating content on their platforms in a decision stemming from a Republican-backed lawsuit against President Joe Biden’s administration.
The department asked the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to issue a stay of the order last week by Louisiana-based U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty.
Federal agencies including the Department of Health and Human Services and the FBI cannot talk to social media companies for