Senator Eric Schmitt recently sent letters to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, seeking answers regarding the suppression of free speech on their platforms, particularly in the lead-up to the 2024 elections. In his letter, Schmitt expressed concern over what he described as social media companies being used to suppress American citizens’ speech, specifically targeting conservative voices.
Schmitt pointed out that under pressure from government officials, social media platforms have previously censored content under the guise of fighting “misinformation” and “disinformation.” He referenced his previous lawsuit, Missouri v. Biden, in which he accused the Biden Administration of colluding with Big Tech to censor opposing viewpoints.
Related: Zuckerberg: Biden Admin Pressured Facebook To Censor Content, Vows To Push Back In Future
“Freedom of speech is vital to the health of our republic,” Schmitt wrote, stressing the importance of keeping online platforms open to diverse opinions without interference from unelected officials or corporate policies. Schmitt vowed to continue defending free speech as a U.S. Senator, saying, “I will fight for Missourians’ and Americans’ individual freedoms against the threats to free speech from both the Biden Administration and your companies.”
Schmitt’s letter posed several pointed questions to the tech CEOs, seeking clarity on their content moderation policies, their handling of censorship allegations, and the steps they are taking to prevent government influence on their platforms ahead of the 2024 election.
Read: Google Removes PragerU App From Play Store Citing ‘Hate Speech Policy’
The senator also introduced the Curtailing Online Limitations that Lead Unconstitutionally to Democracy’s Erosion (COLLUDE) Act, aimed at curbing Big Tech’s ability to act as censors on behalf of the government. Schmitt emphasized that Americans should be grateful for the First Amendment, warning against the type of censorship seen across Europe under draconian “hate speech” laws.
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