Staff Reports
Get ready for some fireworks, because House Republicans are ready to take on Big Tech and Mark Zuckerberg himself. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan isn’t messing around, as he is considering holding Zuckerberg in contempt for his company’s censorship efforts. And let’s be honest, with a name like Meta, formerly known as Facebook, they are basically begging to be held accountable.
It Looks Like Zuckerberg Could Be Held in Contempt As House GOP Cracks Down on Big Tech Censorship https://t.co/heqSvRlVqu
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) July 18, 2023
The Republicans have been on this issue for a while now, even before they regained control of the House. Jordan and his colleagues have been sending letters to Zuckerberg left and right, demanding answers about censorship. But surprise, surprise, Zuckerberg has been dodging their questions like a pro. He hasn’t provided the requested documents or information, which is why Jordan is ready to show him who’s boss.
Is Mark Zuckerberg’s “Threads” already working with the federal government to censor Americans? pic.twitter.com/OdQeq1mCHQ
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) July 17, 2023
Not only did Jordan issue Meta a subpoena for censorship documentation, but the company’s response was a big disappointment. They failed to comply with the subpoena and provide the internal communications that Jordan is after. And let me tell you, Jordan is not happy about it. He made it clear that if Meta doesn’t comply, he will use “one or more enforcement mechanisms.” Ooh, sounds serious.
The committee is specifically looking for internal meeting notes and discussions related to content moderation, as well as documents about enforcing actions against disinformation. But what has Meta provided so far? Oh, just over 50,000 pages of documents and a few employees to talk about external and internal issues. Not exactly what Jordan was asking for. It’s like Meta is playing a game of hide and seek, but the Republicans are not backing down.
And it doesn’t stop there. With Meta’s new projects, like the Threads app, the concerns for censorship are only growing. Jordan sent another letter to Zuckerberg, letting him know that they are also interested in content related to Threads. You see, the committee is concerned about potential First Amendment violations, especially since Meta has censored speech in the past at the government’s request. They want to get to the bottom of it all and protect our free speech rights.
This is why it’s so important for Congress to investigate and understand the extent of Big Tech’s collusion with the government to censor speech. It’s not just about Mark Zuckerberg and Meta, it’s about the future of our First Amendment rights. We need legislation that limits the government’s ability to work with technology companies to restrict content and deplatform users. Jordan and the House Republicans are fighting for our freedom of speech, and they won’t back down. Watch out, Zuckerberg, because the Republicans have their eyes on you.
