The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in the case of Murthy v. Missouri today, a case that delves into the complex intersection of government communication with Big Tech companies and the boundaries between coercion and persuasion.
At the heart of the lawsuit are concerns raised by attorneys general from Missouri and Louisiana, who represent physicians and media members opposed to what they perceive as efforts by the Biden administration to curb misinformation regarding COVID-19 vaccines and the 2020 election.
This case carries significant implications for free speech, the regulation of Big Tech, and the role of government in combating misinformation.
An amicus brief filed by the Brennan Center in support of the case seeks to underscore the critical importance of providing election workers with access to accurate information, particularly concerning threats to the integrity of free and fair elections.
Gowri Ramachandran, serving as the deputy director in the Brennan Center’s democracy program, specializes in election security, administration, and combating election disinformation.
In a conversation with Dahlia Lithwick on the Amicus podcast, Ramachandran highlighted the unique challenges faced by election officials who require real-time information about potential threats to electoral processes.
Their discussion, edited for clarity, sheds light on the complexities of navigating the intersection between government oversight, technological platforms, and the safeguarding of democratic processes.