Something deeply concerning is happening in Texas.
The state that once symbolized rustic, cowboy independence and unapologetic free speech is now on the verge of criminalizing memes. Yes, political memes could land you in jail for a year, thanks to the GOP-run Texas House.
They recently passed a dystopian bill called “HB 366.” It was introduced by Republican Rep. Dade Phelan, and it would criminalize certain political memes and altered media. Sounds like the UK, right? Well, under this law, if a piece of parody content doesn’t have the “government-issued disclaimer,” the person who shared it could face up to one year in jail. The supposed reason for this bill is to prevent election misinformation, but the language is so broad that it leaves the door wide open for abuse, which is probably the entire point.
The bill targets any altered video or image that makes it look like a politician said or did something they didn’t actually say or do. But that’s exactly what political memes are: commentary through parody or exaggeration.
