MIAMI – Florida’s heated abortion rights debate is now a free speech debate and the Federal Communications Commission is rebuking the administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis for what an official calls a censorship attempt.
An ad from the pro-abortion rights amendment “Yes on 4″ campaign is at the center of threats and counter-threats.
The DeSantis administration is threatening legal action against television stations that air an ad showing a woman named Caroline, who became pregnant after a brain cancer diagnosis.
“The doctors knew that if I did not end my pregnancy, I would lose my baby, I would lose my life, and my daughter would lose her mom,” the woman says in the ad. “Florida has now banned abortions, even in cases like mine.”
A letter from a Florida Department of Health official claims it is “categorically false” to allege that “current Florida law does not allow physicians to perform abortions necessary to preserve the lives and health of pregnant women” and claims the ad is “dangerous” to public health, allowing it to initiate legal actions against the television stations.
It’s true that Florida’s current six-week restriction does include exceptions to save the life of the mother. It’s also true that a mother doesn’t get that exception until two doctors sign off on it in writing, a requirement that would not have applied in Caroline’s brain cancer case.
Television stations may not censor ads based on content. ABC recently handled an anti-abortion ad with graphic images by noting that it was required by federal law to carry it.
Millions have been spent in messaging for and against the abortion rights amendment, and, from the DeSantis administration, the full weight of those in state government against it.
FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel wrote, “Threats against broadcast stations for airing content that conflicts with the government’s views are dangerous and undermine the fundamental principle of free speech.”
The FCC is threatening to fine DeSantis $500 per day if he violates FCC regulations.
