News-JAWBONE-Act-AI-Government-Jawboning-2026

Cruz and Wyden introduce JAWBONE Act covering social media, AI, and broadcasters

U.S. Senators Ted Cruz and Ron Wyden introduced the JAWBONE Act on June 11, 2026, as a bipartisan bill aimed at limiting federal officials' ability to pressure social-media companies, AI developers, and broadcasters to suppress or disfavor constitutionally protected speech.

The Senate Commerce Committee release says the bill would prohibit federal employees from using official authority, threats, or inducements to coerce covered intermediaries into censoring lawful speech. It also says the bill would create a private right of action and require federal agencies to report communications with covered platforms, giving affected speakers and intermediaries a transparency and enforcement mechanism.

The Knight First Amendment Institute endorsed the bill, saying it would help deter improper government jawboning while preserving lawful government speech and persuasion.

The development is significant for AI law because the bill expressly includes AI developers alongside social-media companies and broadcasters in a federal speech-governance framework, connecting AI-system operators to the post-Murthy v. Missouri debate over government pressure, platform moderation, and First Amendment limits.