Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent presidential candidate in the upcoming November elections, filed a lawsuit on Monday against technology company Meta and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, accusing them of censorship. The lawsuit claims that a short biographical film about Kennedy’s life and environmental activism called “Who is Bobby Kennedy?” was censored on Facebook and Instagram shortly after its release on May 3.
Kennedy stated that users on Facebook and Instagram were unable to share or publish the film after its release, and Meta provided contradictory explanations and even threats about the consequences of doing so. He expressed concern about the impact of this censorship on voters’ ability to make informed decisions about a candidate in an election year.
The attorney representing Robert Kennedy Jr., Rick Jaffe, emphasized the importance of protecting free speech, especially in the context of political candidates being censored by social media companies like Meta. The lawsuit seeks damages and an injunction to prevent Meta from interfering in the elections.
A recent study conducted by Stanford University professors concluded that Facebook and Instagram have limited influence on voters during elections, despite the popularity of social media platforms. Kennedy, although considered a long shot for winning the presidency, could still impact the election by drawing votes away from the major parties.
In addition to his political endeavors, Kennedy also made headlines recently for revealing that he had a dead parasitic worm in his brain, which may have caused cognitive issues in the past. Despite this revelation, Kennedy maintains that it has not significantly affected him.
Overall, the lawsuit against Meta highlights concerns about censorship and the influence of social media on political discourse
