As Touch as GRANITE: Guaranteeing Rights Against Novel International Tyranny and Extortion! By Charles Taylor (Florida)

The Wyoming GRANITE Act (full name: Guaranteeing Rights Against Novel International Tyranny and Extortion Act), introduced as House Bill 0070 in the Wyoming state legislature in early 2026, is a pioneering state-level bill aimed at shielding residents from foreign governments' attempts to censor speech that would be protected under the U.S. First Amendment. Sponsored by Representative Daniel Singh (R-Cheyenne), it has been framed in outlets like InfoWars as a potential catalyst for a broader "free speech revolution," particularly against extraterritorial censorship pressures from places like the EU and UK.

The bill targets "foreign censorship laws" — regulations, orders, or demands from foreign states or organisations (including entities like the EU) that restrict, penalise, or compel disclosure about expression, association, or content that would be constitutionally protected in the U.S. if it occurs on American soil. This includes laws on "hate speech," "misinformation/disinformation," "harmful content," online safety, or defamation applied extraterritorially to U.S.-based platforms, users, or servers.

Key provisions include:

Private right of action — Wyoming residents, businesses, or U.S. persons/entities with servers in Wyoming can sue foreign governments or agencies that threaten, attempt, or enforce such censorship.

Heavy penalties — Prevailing plaintiffs could receive the greater of treble actual damages, statutory damages of $10 million (adjusted for inflation) per violation, or 10% of the defendant's U.S.-related revenue (or 3x any threatened foreign fine in some drafts).

Non-enforcement — Wyoming courts and state agencies are barred from recognising, enforcing, or cooperating with foreign censorship orders, including data demands, investigations, prosecutions, or extraditions tied to protected speech.

Joint and several liability — Applies to foreign states, agencies, officials, and collaborators (subject to federal law like the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act).

Effective date — Most provisions would kick in July 1, 2026, if passed, with some immediate elements.

The bill emphasises Wyoming's policy favouring "robust protection of speech, association, and innovation" in digital spaces like blockchain and internet services, arguing that foreign overreach chills free expression and innovation in the state.

How it Could Fuel a Free Speech Revolution

The InfoWars piece by Raw Egg Nationalist (February 9, 2026) portrays the GRANITE Act as "hard as a rock" defiance against globalist-style censorship, calling it the potential start of a revolution. Here's why proponents argue it could energise free speech protections:

1.Counters extraterritorial overreach — Foreign governments (e.g., UK Ofcom targeting platforms like 4chan under the Online Safety Act, or EU's Digital Services Act requiring suppression of "mis- and disinformation") increasingly pressure U.S.-based companies to censor content globally. Platforms comply to avoid massive fines (up to 6% of global revenue), leading to indirect censorship of Americans via reduced reach, shadow-bans, or pre-moderation. The Act draws a hard line: such orders are unenforceable in Wyoming, and victims can hit back financially.

2.Empowers individuals and businesses — Unlike federal inaction or Big Tech's compliance (e.g., X reportedly actioning 95% of EU-flagged items), this gives ordinary users and companies a direct legal tool. Supporters like lawyer Preston Byrne (who helped draft it and represents 4chan in related cases) call it a "Pro-Free Speech Death Star," with "damages turbolasers" to deter foreign censors. It could encourage platforms to resist foreign demands if they know U.S. users can sue.

3.Sets a precedent for wider action — As the first U.S. state bill of its kind, success in Wyoming could inspire copycat laws in other states (e.g., mentions of New Hampshire) or federal legislation to pierce foreign sovereign immunity for censorship acts. Proponents see it as asserting "America First" values abroad—protecting U.S. speech while signalling to Europeans that their governments' restrictions won't export unchallenged. Quotes like Rep. Singh's "Wyoming is drawing a line in the sand" and Byrne's call for federal follow-up highlight its revolutionary potential.

4.Broader free speech momentum — In a context where platforms throttle content under foreign pressure (e.g., algorithmic tweaks limiting reach without outright bans), the Act reinforces First Amendment primacy on U.S. soil. It could boost innovation in decentralised tech (blockchain, independent servers) by creating a safe haven from foreign threats.

Potential Limitations and Counterpoints

While the bill is narrowly tailored to foreign actors (not domestic censorship), critics note challenges: enforcing judgments against foreign governments is tricky under international law, and Big Tech might still comply globally to protect revenue. Some view it as protecting controversial speech (e.g., "hate speech" debates), while others argue it's essential to prevent viewpoint-based suppression. As of February 2026, the bill is in early legislative stages — introduced but not yet passed.

Overall, the GRANITE Act is pitched as a bold, state-driven pushback against the erosion of free speech through foreign regulatory imperialism and corporate compliance. If it passes and inspires more, it could mark a turning point in reasserting constitutional protections in the digital age—making Wyoming a literal "granite" fortress for free expression.

https://www.infowars.com/posts/hard-as-a-rock-why-wyomings-new-granite-act-could-be-the-beginning-of-a-free-speech-revolution