President Donald Trump wants a commission set up to review complaints of anticonservative bias and censorship on social media
- President Donald Trump is mulling the possible creation of a commission to review complaints of anticonservative bias and censorship on social media
- Subject for review would be companies like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Google, which Trump tweeted are under 'total control' of the 'Radical Left'
- The plans could also lead to agencies like the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Election Commission doing similar investigations
President Donald Trump is considering the possible creation of a commission to review complaints of anticonservative bias and censorship on social media, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Google.
All four social media companies were mentioned by the president in a tweet earlier this month signaling his plans.
'The Radical Left is in total command & control of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Google. The Administration is working to remedy this illegal situation. Stay tuned, and send names & events,' he tweeted on May 16.
The president's plans are still being developed, say people familiar with Trump's considerations.
President Donald Trump is considering the possible creation of a commission to review complaints of anticonservative bias and censorship on social media, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Google. Trump is pictured during a visit to Michigan this past week
All four social media companies were mentioned by the president in a tweet earlier this month signaling his plans
The effort also may lead to agencies like the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Election Commission doing similar investigations, reports the Wall Street Journal.
When asked for a reaction to the plan, some of the companies went on the defensive.
'People on both sides of the aisle disagree with some of the positions we've taken, but we remain committed to seeking outside perspectives and communicating clearly about why we make the decisions we do,' Facebook tells the Journal.
Twitter's response was to say that it enforces its own rules 'impartially for all users, regardless of their background or political affiliation.'
'We are constantly working to improve our systems and will continue to be transparent and in regular communication with elected officials in regard to our efforts.'
Google parent Alphabet, through a spokeswoman, stated its products are built with 'extraordinary care and safeguards to be a trustworthy source of information for everyone, without any regard for political viewpoint.'
Facebook insists the company founded by Mark Zuckerberg (pictured) remains 'committed to seeking outside perspectives and communicating clearly about why we make the decisions we do', when asked about Trump's plan. The company also owns Instagram
Twitter's response was to say that it enforces its own rules 'impartially for all users, regardless of their background or political affiliation'
Google parent Alphabet, through a spokeswoman, stated its products are built with 'extraordinary care and safeguards to be a trustworthy source of information for everyone, without any regard for political viewpoint'
The Internet Association, a trade group, also assured that technology companies were not influenced by the left.
'Online platforms do not have a political bias, and offer more people a chance to have their voice heard than at any point in history,' says Jon Berroya, the group's interim president.
The government also should move cautiously implementing such a plan, otherwise it risks violating the right to free speech, warns American Civil Liberties Union's senior legislative counsel Kate Ruane.
The Internet Association, a trade group, assures that technology companies are not influenced by the left. 'Online platforms do not have a political bias, and offer more people a chance to have their voice heard than at any point in history,' says interim president Jon Berroya
The government must move cautiously implementing such a plan, otherwise it risks violating the right to free speech, warns American Civil Liberties Union's senior legislative counsel Kate Ruane
'We do know for certain that when the government tries to intervene in viewpoint-based content moderation decisions by private companies, what typically follows are debacles that undermine online privacy, safety and speech,' she said.
The Trump administration also may work on updates to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
Critics have argued that the law is too liberal in protecting technology firms from liability for what gets posted on their social media sites.
No comments: