American Thought Leaders The Missouri v. Biden Censorship Case Just Ended in a Landmark Settlement. Here’s What That Means | Mark Chenoweth
Apr 3, 2026
Mark Chenoweth, president and chief legal officer of the New Civil Liberties Alliance, explains a major settlement that admits systematic government-led social media censorship. He breaks down who the decree binds, what conduct is prohibited, why the 10-year term matters, and how related Supreme Court cases could reshape administrative power and free speech enforcement.
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Federal Admission Of Social Media Censorship
- The government admitted to a coordinated social media censorship operation targeting COVID-19 content, the Hunter Biden laptop, and lockdown opposition.
- Mark Chenoweth secured a 10-year consent decree against the Surgeon General, CDC, and CISA acknowledging that misconduct occurred.
First Amendment Protects Mislabelled Misinformation
- The consent decree affirms that social media and new media are protected by the First Amendment, including speech labeled misinformation.
- Chenoweth emphasized that the First Amendment even protects false speech unless it crosses into illegal categories like child pornography.
Understand Consent Decree Limits And Leverage
- Expect the consent decree to bind only defendants sued and the named plaintiffs, so others may need to sue to get relief.
- Chenoweth advises that the decree still helps future plaintiffs because the government admitted illegality, easing later suits.