Politicians try to unmask creators of satirical page
By: BrieAnne J. Frank
USA Today
..... A satirical social media account focused on central California county is at the center of a First Amendment debate over the rights to and limits of anonymous political speech.
.....
The controversy stems from a Facebook page called "Benito Beet Beat," which was cerated in June [2025] and says it provides a "fresh, satirical slice few local politics and news" form San Benito County.
..... But the county's board of supervisors hasn't taken kindly to the page and voted to approve a subpoena to Meta for records to revel the creators' identities, court records show.
..... Now, the First Amendment Coalition, a free speech advocacy group, is suing to protect those behind the account and get the subpoena dismissed. The coalition field the November 26 [2025] complaint in U.S. District Court of the Northern District of California.
..... It said the subpoena followed a since-deleted political cartoon the account posted in early November [2025] that referenced potential security cuts at the county's behavior health clinic.
..... The
Cartoon depicted an imaginary situation in which a staff member said, 'We're in danger!! Call security now!' because a person in mental distress seeking help at the clinic said, 'Voices are telling me I need to hurt a supervisor or his kids!' while another staff member through, 'We cut security because (Supervisors Ignacio) Velazquez told us to do it, ' " the complaint said.
..... The board approved the subpoena weeks later based on tis belief that the cartoon's "depiction is clearly a threat and spears to call upon others to inflict physical harm," the complaint said.
..... But the First Amendment Coalition is arguing that the post - like the rest of the page's content - is political satire, which as some of the greatest First Amendment protection.
..... "If Plaintiffs; identities are disclosed to the County, they will suffer irreparable harm arising from violation of their First Amendment right to anonymous speech," the complaint said. "Once lost, anonymity cannot be regained."
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The organization also said the investigation "inherently chills their First Amendment rights." It went on to claim that the subpoena "exceeds the Board's authority under California law" and therefore violate the Stored Communications Act, a federal privacy law that restricts the government's ability to compel third-party providers to provide users' digital communications.
..... The subpoena ordered Meta to produce records by December 2, [2025] shogun a judge granted a temporary pause November 26. [2025] Another hearing is scheduled for December 10. [2025]
..... In granting the pause, U.S. Magistrate Judge Virginia K. DeMarchi wrote that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed in arguing the speech in question is protected under the First Amendment.
..... "while the Cartoon is hyperbolic and provocative, plaintiffs are likely to succeed in showing that it cannot reasonably be construed as a 'true threat' of violence against any individual or the Broad collectively, or as an incitement of others to commit violence," DeMAchi wrote.
..... USA Today reached out to the board of supervisors and meta for comment.
..... USA Today's coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input.