The Censorship Accountability Act: Holding Federal Employees Accountable for First Amendment Violations

💼The Censorship Accountability Act creates a cause of action for individuals to sue federal employees who violate their First Amendment rights.

📜The bill replicates the structure of section 1983 but is limited to rights secured by the First Amendment.

❓There are concerns about the scope, language, and exceptions of the bill, such as its limitation to the First Amendment and the potential assertion of qualified immunity by federal employees.

🔎The bill does not address sovereign immunity for the federal government, raising questions about holding the government accountable for alleged First Amendment violations.

⚖️Further consideration and careful drafting are needed to address the conceptual and practical concerns of the Censorship Accountability Act.

What is the main purpose of the Censorship Accountability Act?

—The main purpose of the Censorship Accountability Act is to create a cause of action for individuals to sue federal employees who violate their First Amendment rights.

What rights are covered by the bill?

—The bill is limited to rights secured by the First Amendment, such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly.

What are the concerns about the scope of the bill?

—There are concerns that the bill's limitation to the First Amendment may exclude individuals seeking redress for violations of other constitutional rights.

Can federal employees assert qualified immunity as a defense?

—It is unclear whether federal employees can assert qualified immunity as a defense under the Censorship Accountability Act.

Does the bill address sovereign immunity for the federal government?

—No, the bill does not explicitly address sovereign immunity for the federal government, raising questions about holding the government accountable for alleged First Amendment violations.

00:00The Censorship Accountability Act aims to create a cause of action for individuals to sue federal employees who violate their First Amendment rights.

00:35There are concerns about the scope, language, and exceptions of the bill, such as its limitation to the First Amendment and the potential assertion of qualified immunity by federal employees.

09:19The bill does not address sovereign immunity for the federal government, raising questions about holding the government accountable for alleged First Amendment violations.