Yelp preemptively filed a suit against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in an effort to protect its practices of noting that crisis pregnancy centers do not provide abortions.

The online review site filed the suit in the Northern District of California on Wednesday in response to a Sept. 22 letter that Paxton sent them. Paxton alleged the company had violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act by adding notes distinguishing abortion providers from anti-abortion support centers. The company argued that Paxton was restricting its right to free speech.

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"This threat targets truthful speech fully protected by the First Amendment," Yelp said in a filing. "The attorney general may not punish Yelp for publishing truthful information." The website seeks an injunction to bar Paxton from taking legal action against Yelp.

Yelp decided to add notices to any listing of CPCs in August, stating they "typically provide limited medical services and may not have licensed medical professionals onsite." Paxton sent Yelp a letter in February alleging that this listing was inaccurate. Yelp relented, changing the listing to state that CPCs "do not offer abortions or referrals to abortion providers."

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Following the change, Paxton acknowledged the statement was accurate. He nevertheless indicated that he intended to pursue charges against the company for deceptive conduct.

Abortion rights advocates have alleged that crisis pregnancy centers, which offer abortion alternatives among a mixture of reproductive healthcare services, engage in deceptive practices while discouraging visitors from accessing abortions.