The U.S. Department of Justice announced a settlement this week resolving litigation that alleged the federal government improperly influenced the suppression of online speech through the State Department’s now-defunct Global Engagement Center.
The lawsuit, Daily Wire v. Department of State, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, claimed that federal officials supported or facilitated tools used by private companies and social media platforms to downgrade or limit visibility of certain viewpoints. Plaintiffs argued the actions violated First Amendment protections.
According to the Justice Department, the agreement ends the case without further litigation following earlier court rulings that allowed discovery to proceed after motions to dismiss were denied.
The settlement aligns with a 2025 executive order issued by Donald Trump titled “Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship.” The order asserts that prior federal actions related to combating misinformation infringed on constitutionally protected speech.
Justice Department officials said the resolution is intended to prevent similar practices in the future. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche described the settlement as addressing what he characterized as past government overreach.
The case centered on allegations that federal agencies coordinated with or funded private-sector technologies capable of limiting online speech, including through demotion or demonetization. The State Department’s Global Engagement Center, which had focused on countering foreign disinformation, has since been closed.
The Justice Department said the settlement reinforces its stated priority of protecting Americans’ right to free expression while avoiding continued legal proceedings in the case.
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