Staff Reports
In a grand episode reminiscent of a messy custody battle among three distressed parents, American tech companies find themselves yanked in every possible direction. With President Trump’s administration making it clear that it will not play nice with the OECD’s regulations that favor censorship over free speech, the ambitious Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission combined forces to remind Big Tech that silencing conservative voices is a big no-no.
The stakes are high as the FTC’s new chairperson prepared to throw down the gauntlet, asserting that all this shadowbanning and demonetizing might be violating consumer protection and competition laws. It seems like “Big Tech” has inadvertently become the poster child for the consequences of too much content moderation, specifically when it comes to conservative ideas that challenge progressive narratives. With a nod to the idea that government overreach can’t take a holiday, the FTC is probing which platforms might be coercing their users into self-censorship based on their viewpoints.
FTC crashes FCC party in threats against Big Tech for censorship in tug-of-war with Europe, Brazil https://t.co/QJM8zlkFdd
— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) February 27, 2025
Meanwhile, the Trump Media and Technology Group, the home of the president’s exciting foray into social media, Truth Social, secured a favorable ruling against a Brazilian bureaucrat flexing his censorship muscles. This ruling could pave the way for more legal challenges against those attempting to stifle freedom of speech under the guise of regulation. After all, in the eyes of the court, it’s un-American to moderate content in ways that imply some voices are more valuable than others—if only some would have the courage to apply this standard consistently.
The FTC’s foray into this conundrum has drawn quite a collection of opinions from public comments, many of which seem to dismiss the urgency of the inquiry. Critics took the floor, vehemently suggesting that the real issue being discussed is how Trump and Elon Musk are allegedly the biggest threats to free speech. It seems like the critics have lost sight of the actual point, which remains that tech firms should not be running their platforms as thought police.
As if that weren’t enough, Commissioner Brendan Carr of the FCC has made it clear that he has little patience for the regulatory ballet that leads to consumer oppression and censorship. His dissatisfaction with Apple’s cozy relationship with certain activist groups raises eyebrows, suggesting that their transparency practices in handling sensitive content are less than satisfactory. In the grand tradition of Big Tech bending the knee to diversity and inequality dogmas, Carr’s efforts seem to incite more fireworks that should leave investors wondering about the stability of stocks as regulatory pressures mount.
With all this in mind, one thing is evident: the Biden administration’s policies that sought refuge under “independent agency” status are facing an unapologetic scrutiny. The gears are now grinding in Washington, thanks to Trump’s directives that claw back some of that regulatory overreach. If American innovation and consumer freedoms remain the aims of this government shuffle, then all eyes better be on how these complex interactions play out. Buckle up, it’s going to be a rocky, yet potentially freeing, ride.
