Ted Cruz and Ron Wyden try to fight censorship with bipartisan JAWBONE Act - Ars Technica Skip to content Ars Technica home Sections Forum Subscribe Search AI Biz & IT Cars Culture Gaming Health Policy Science Security Space Tech Feature Reviews AI Biz & IT Cars Culture Gaming Health Policy Science Security Space Tech Forum Subscribe Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Pin to story Theme HyperLight Day & Night Dark System Search Sign In Sign in dialog... Sign in JAWBONE Act Ted Cruz and Ron Wyden try to fight censorship with bipartisan JAWBONE Act Cruz/Wyden bill would help Americans sue federal officials over censorship. Jon Brodkin – Jun 11, 2026 3:31 pm | 181 US Senators Ted Cruz (center) and Ron Wyden (back left) in the US Capitol on April 5, 2022. Credit: Getty Images | Tom Williams US Senators Ted Cruz (center) and Ron Wyden (back left) in the US Capitol on April 5, 2022. Credit: Getty Images | Tom Williams Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav US Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today introduced the JAWBONE Act, a proposed law that could fuel lawsuits against federal officials who try to coerce broadcasters or tech platforms into restricting speech. The Justice Against Weaponized Bureaucratic Overreach to Networked Expression Act would prohibit federal agencies and employees from coercing or trying to coerce broadcasters and providers of online services or AI services into changing content.
The bill could apply to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr’s repeated attempts to pressure TV networks and broadcasters, or government pressure imposed on social media firms and AI chatbot makers . The bill would create a private right of action for victims of “jawboning,” letting people recover compensatory damages in court. Individuals whose speech is stifled could bring cases against government officials, and the proposed law could be enforced by state attorneys general through civil actions. “Jawboning occurs when the government pressures private companies to censor speech protected by the First Amendment,” said a press release issued by Cruz and Wyden today.
Source: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/06/ted-cruz-and-ron-wyden-try-to-fight-censorship-with-bipartisan-jawbone-act/
The bill could apply to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr’s repeated attempts to pressure TV networks and broadcasters, or government pressure imposed on social media firms and AI chatbot makers . The bill would create a private right of action for victims of “jawboning,” letting people recover compensatory damages in court. Individuals whose speech is stifled could bring cases against government officials, and the proposed law could be enforced by state attorneys general through civil actions. “Jawboning occurs when the government pressures private companies to censor speech protected by the First Amendment,” said a press release issued by Cruz and Wyden today.
Source: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/06/ted-cruz-and-ron-wyden-try-to-fight-censorship-with-bipartisan-jawbone-act/