Disney and ABC have filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The plaintiffs allege that the regulator's demand for early broadcast license renewals is a form of political retaliation for the editorial stance of ABC News and satirical programs, such as Jimmy Kimmel Live!, which have drawn the ire of President Donald Trump.
The lawsuit emphasizes that the FCC’s actions are aimed at restricting freedom of speech and intimidating the media. Several civil rights organizations, including the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and the Freedom of the Press Foundation, have supported ABC's position, accusing FCC Chair Brendan Carr of turning the agency into a tool for censorship to serve the interests of the Trump administration.
The sole Democrat on the FCC, Anna Gomez, has also backed the lawsuit, stating that the commission is using the threat of license revocation to pressure the company over unfavorable content. ABC is currently seeking an end to what they describe as an abuse of government authority.
