Bipartisan Congressional Leaders Champion Digital Rights for USA Capturing Athletes
COLO SPRGS, CO (Feb 18, 2025) – In a major victory for America’s Olympic and Paralympic taking pictures athletes, a bipartisan congressional coalition has efficiently intervened with Meta Platforms to handle systematic restrictions positioned on USA Capturing athletes’ social media presence. This breakthrough ensures our nation’s champions can freely share their athletic achievements and join with supporters throughout Instagram and Fb.
Led by Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Consultant Richard Hudson (R-NC), and Consultant Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), the congressional effort challenged Meta’s content material moderation practices that had disproportionately affected Olympic and Paralympic taking pictures athletes. By way of direct engagement with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, these legislators defended athletes’ rights to showcase their official sporting actions with out digital obstacle.
“I thank Meta for doing the proper factor and reversing course,” mentioned Consultant Richard Hudson. As a robust defender of our 2nd Modification, I stand with our unbelievable Olympic and Paralympic USA Capturing athletes and am glad to see their Constitutionally-protected freedoms being upheld.”
The influence of those restrictions had been significantly extreme for adorned athletes together with Vincent Hancock, a five-time Olympic medalist, Olympic medalist Conner Prince, and Paralympic medalist McKenna Geer. Regardless of representing the US on the highest ranges of worldwide competitors – together with the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Video games the place Hancock and Prince added to America’s medal rely – these athletes discovered their social media attain artificially restricted merely for sharing content material that includes their Olympic sporting tools.
“This victory demonstrates what occurs once we stand united in protection of our sport,” mentioned Tim Rupli, USA Capturing Board Chair. “When bureaucrats and tech platforms try and silence our Olympic and Paralympic athletes, they’re not simply limiting social media posts – they’re threatening the very visibility of taking pictures sports activities in America. We are going to proceed to battle in opposition to any try and marginalize our athletes or diminish their achievements. Our champions need to share their Olympic journey with out restriction or prejudice.”
“This decision affirms our athletes’ proper to proudly symbolize their sport and join with the American public who helps their Olympic and Paralympic goals,” mentioned Kelly Reisdorf, USA Capturing CEO. “We stand vigilant in defending our athletes’ capacity to share their journeys, honor their sponsors, and encourage the following era of American taking pictures sports activities champions.”
About USA Capturing
USA Capturing, a 501(c)(3) non-profit company was chartered by the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee because the Nationwide Governing Physique for the Olympic & Paralympic Capturing Sports activities in April 1995. The group develops and implements packages to advertise development within the sport and serves as a sanctioning physique for native and nationwide competitions. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Coaching Heart, USA Capturing has a full-time workers devoted to our sport.
