State Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita (R-Scottsdale) cited Facebook's recent news-content feud with Australia in emphasizing the importance of SB 1687.
“This is why government shouldn’t rely on a private company as its means to communicate w/ its citizens. Gov’t shouldn’t become subservient to the political whims of big tech,” Ugenti-Rita wrote on Twitter.
The Arizona Senate Bill 1687 introduced by the senator herself would “prohibit any governmental entity in Arizona from using a social media platform for any official or governmental purpose.”
The existing Arizona statute declares that “a notice of intent to establish or increase taxes, assessments or fees including assessments” is required to be made known to the public by posting it on the municipality’s website. “If the municipality uses social media or other electronic communication tools, the notice of intent shall be distributed through the municipality's social media accounts or other electronic communication tools.”
“Passing SB1687 will go a long way to preserving the relationship between government and the people it serves,” Ugenti-Rita added.
The bill does not apply to a personal social media account operated by an elected official.
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