Under a new bipartisan bill, Americans could sue if a government official illegally tries to coerce a social media or broadcasting company to remove their post. The JAWBONE Act would also require public disclosures of government correspondence with these companies.

This could empower individuals like Jimmy Kimmel to sue Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr for comments he made about Kimmel's joke, threatening TV stations' broadcast licenses. Lesser-known users whose posts were removed due to medical misinformation or criticism might see legal recourse.

Cruz first teased the bill in reaction to Carr’s comments and has criticized Biden administration officials for messages to social media companies during the pandemic on medical misinformation. The bill could lead to costly legal battles, potentially overshadowing political disputes.