Supreme Court blocks Texas social-media law that Tech companies warned would permit hateful information to run rampant in Texas.

Although the legislation was approved in September, a lower court granted a preliminary order preventing it from becoming effective. This changed in mid-May when the Fifth Circuit federal appeals court ruled to suspend the injunction until a final ruling on the case. The law could then be enacted while it was being considered in the larger case.

Two tech industry groups, NetChoice and Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA), , were prompted to file an emergency petition at Alito. Alito is responsible for cases in that district.

CCIA and NetChoice asked the court not to make the law effective. They argued that social media companies have editorial decisions about which content they want to display and distribute, and that the appeals court’s decision would eliminate that freedom and chill speech. The court was asked to lift the stay while the appeals court considered the key First Amendment issues in the case.

The Supreme Court’s decision could have implications for other states who may be considering legislation similar to the one in Texas. Although Florida’s legislature passed a similar law on social media, it was blocked by the courts.

A federal appeals court for Eleventh Circuit affirmed an injunction against a similar Florida law, concluding unanimously that content moderation is protected under the Constitution. The Florida attorney general filed an amicus short for her state and others. She argued that the industry misunderstood the law and that states have the right to regulate businesses in this manner.