WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana denied two motions filed by defendants in Jill Hines v. Alex Stamos to dismiss America First Legal’s (AFL) lawsuit against the Stanford Internet Observatory, the Atlantic Council, the Aspen Institute, and other entities over a mass-surveillance and censorship program.
On May 2, 2023, AFL filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of Jill Hines, the co-director of Health Freedom Louisiana, and Jim Hoft, the founder of The Gateway Pundit, against the academic institutions, nonprofits, and researchers associated with the so-called “Election Integrity Partnership” (EIP) and the “Virality Project.” The lawsuit alleges that these entities conspired with the federal government to target and censor conservative political speech regarding COVID-19 and elections on social media platforms.
Amid AFL’s lawsuit and Rep. Jim Jordan’s investigation as Chairman of the Select Committee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, the Stanford Internet Observatory was shut down in June 2024, and the Election Integrity Partnership did not operate during the 2024 election cycle.
The defendants moved to dismiss AFL’s lawsuit on the grounds that the court lacked personal jurisdiction over them. In other words, the defendants argued that the plaintiffs failed to allege sufficient facts showing that the defendants have enough of a connection to Louisiana for the court to exercise jurisdiction.
In a significant decision, the court denied the defendants’ motions to dismiss the case, affirming that AFL’s allegations are substantial and warrant further examination. AFL can now engage in discovery over the defendants’ actions directed at Louisiana and its residents. AFL’s clients have alleged substantial contact, such as coordination with state officials, having citizens of Louisiana censored on various social media platforms, and assigning analysts to track alleged disinformation arising in Louisiana.
This ruling allows AFL’s case to proceed, marking a critical step forward in our fight to deliver transparency to the American people and hold accountable the individuals and entities that allegedly colluded with the federal government to censor Americans’ constitutionally protected speech.
Defendants in this case include the Stanford Internet Observatory and its Director and Research Manager, Alex Stamos and Renée DiResta, Dr. Kate Starbird of the University of Washington, Graphika, the Atlantic Research Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab, and the Aspen Institute.
Statement from Nicholas R. Barry, America First Legal Senior Counsel:
“The Defendants will now have to provide discovery over their connections to Louisiana. We are confident the documents and testimony will establish their active steps to censor citizens in Louisiana and others around the country. Private entities cannot be permitted to partner with the government to censor Americans’ speech. We will continue to vigorously pursue our clients’ claims and to protect free speech,” said Nicholas Barry.
Read the decision here.
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