Anger as US state passes bill to criminalise political memes, offenders risk jail term

The Texas House of Representatives has passed a bill aimed at criminalizing political memes.

The bill, HB 366, would imprison offenders for a minimum of one year if the meme does not have a government-approved disclaimer.

The bill was sponsored by the lawmaker representing District 21 and former Speaker of the House, McDade Phela.

The development has been generating anger on social media, with several people condemning the move.

An X user, @MQSullivan, wrote: “Wow! 106 members of the Texas House want to censor your political memes.

“Memes unpopular with politicians will now be subject to scrutiny by the Speech Police at the Texas Ethics Commission.”

Another X user, @LauraLoomet, wrote: “You live in Texas. Did you know that the GOP legislature in Texas under RINO Rep. @Burrows4TX just passed House Bill 366, which would jail Texans for one year unless their political memes or AI posts online have a government-approved disclaimer?

“As Texas becomes more Islamified, they are turning into the UK where people are being sent to prison for MEMES and JOKES.”

Anger as US state passes bill to criminalise political memes, offenders risk jail term