Is there government-Big Tech censorship?
Sources:
Yes, several trusted experts have discussed government-Big Tech censorship in various podcast episodes. Here are some key insights:
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Ben Shapiro on the :
- Shapiro highlights the coordination between Big Tech and government agencies. He points out that this collaboration to censor content, especially under the guidance of government bodies like the CDC, raises constitutional concerns. He references legal precedents where private companies, under certain conditions, have been considered state actors if coerced by the government 1 .
- President Trump filed lawsuits against major tech companies, arguing that they unconstitutionally censor free speech by coordinating with government efforts. Shapiro stresses that tech giants are no longer merely removing violent or harmful content but are manipulating political discourse 2 .
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Marc Morano on the :
- Morano argues that Big Tech censorship equates to government censorship since tech companies often act on lists provided by the government to censor specific content. This undermines the notion that these companies are purely private entities capable of unilateral decision-making 3 .
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Dan Bongino on the :
- Bongino details a lawsuit led by President Trump challenging Big Tech's censorship as illegal, stressing that these companies are effectively acting as government surrogates by enforcing censorship demands from government officials. He highlights emails and communications showing direct involvement of government officials in censored posts 4 5 .
- He discusses extensive document dumps revealing collusion between government officials and tech companies, raising serious First Amendment concerns, as these practices show that the government uses tech companies to do what it constitutionally cannot 6 .
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Norman Doidge on the :
- Doidge brings up examples of how Big Tech's censorship during the COVID-19 pandemic coincided with both government narratives and financial interests, effectively silencing various viewpoints. He references instances where Big Tech platforms like Facebook and YouTube adjusted their censorship policies in response to governmental and organizational pressures 7 .
Overall, these discussions underline concerns over the intertwining roles of Big Tech and government in content moderation and censorship, challenging the principles of free speech and raising constitutional questions.
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