CCIA, NetChoice Say Texas Dismissal Filing Is ‘Meritless’

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s attempt to have tech groups’ lawsuit against the state’s social media law dismissed is “meritless,” said the Computer & Communications Industry Association and NetChoice in a filing Thursday in docket 1:21-cv-00840 (see 2110270031). Supreme Court and 5th Circuit precedent allow associations to sue on behalf of members when members are subject to state regulation, the associations argued. Paxton (R) attempted to have the case dismissed for lack of jurisdiction earlier this month. The law in question would require members to “spend significant time and money overhauling their content-moderation policies and proprietary computer programs, both of which have taken years to develop with substantial resources,” the associations said. Paxton’s office didn’t comment Friday.