# **FTC Launches Investigation into Alleged Tech Censorship**
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has declared a public investigation into claimed online censorship by leading technology companies. The agency seeks to determine whether these organizations have restricted or diminished users’ access to services based on their speech or connections and whether such actions might contravene federal law.
## **FTC Chairman: “Tech Companies Must Not Intimidate Their Users”**
FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson, appointed by President Trump, highlighted the significance of the investigation, asserting, *”Tech companies must not intimidate their users. This investigation will enable the FTC to gain insights into how these companies may have breached the law by silencing and intimidating Americans for expressing their opinions.”*
The FTC’s statement further stated that censorship by technology firms is not only “un-American” but could also be unlawful. The agency voiced concerns that such behavior might harm consumers, inhibit competition, and arise from anti-competitive practices.
## **Tech Sector Response**
The Chamber of Progress, a lobbying organization representing significant tech enterprises, condemned the FTC’s action, characterizing it as an effort to undermine platforms’ capacity to moderate content. In a press release titled *”FTC Chair Rides MAGA ‘Tech Censorship’ Hobby Horse,”* the group contended that claims of tech censorship overlook the reality that conservative voices frequently receive more engagement than their liberal counterparts.
The organization also referenced a **2024 Supreme Court ruling** which determined that a Texas law limiting social media content moderation likely infringes the First Amendment. The court decided that the government should not interfere with how private companies manage speech on their platforms.
## **FTC Welcomes Public Input Until May 21**
The FTC has released a **Request for Information (RFI)**, inviting public feedback until **May 21, 2025**. Users who have faced bans, shadow-bans, demonetization, or other forms of censorship are encouraged to recount their experiences. The agency is particularly keen on understanding whether these measures have negatively affected consumers through unfair or deceptive practices.
Meta, one of the largest social media platforms, recently **discontinued its third-party fact-checking initiative**, a decision that has attracted criticism from both ends of the political spectrum. Some research has contested assertions that tech platforms disproportionately penalize conservative voices, arguing that misinformation enforcement often targets groups that disseminate more misinformation, irrespective of political leanings.
## **FCC Chairman Also Critiques Big Tech**
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr has similarly challenged major tech companies for alleged censorship. He has accused entities like Facebook, Google, Apple, and Microsoft of being part of a “censorship cartel” in collaboration with fact-checking entities and advertising agencies.
Carr has indicated that the FCC might act on **Trump’s requests to reanalyze Section 230** of the Communications Decency Act, which offers legal safeguards for platforms that host and moderate third-party content. His oversight has already prompted **investigations of news outlets** accused of bias against conservatives.
## **What’s Next?**
The FTC’s inquiry could result in new regulations or legal actions against tech firms if the agency uncovers evidence of unlawful censorship. However, with staunch resistance from the tech industry and legal precedents favoring content moderation, the outcome remains uncertain.
As discussions surrounding online speech and platform governance progress, the FTC’s investigation will likely play a pivotal role in influencing the future of digital free expression and corporate responsibility.
