
(HorizonPost.com) – The decisions made by Big Tech companies to block access to President Donald Trump and apps like Parler have, once again, prompted charges of unfair bias against Conservative voices. As proof, people are citing the backlash against those claiming the 2020 election was stolen by the Democrats versus the silence over a tweet by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) expressing a similar sentiment about Hillary Clinton’s loss in 2016.
Uh oh Twitter why is this allowed https://t.co/jqd47VZt3Q
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) January 12, 2021
The First Amendment right to freedom of speech is generally seen as a prohibition against encroachments by the government, not private companies. But some argue this may not apply if they’re acting at the behest of, or in fear of retaliation by, the government. The communications director of Clinton’s failed presidential bid noted these companies began doing this the day they knew the Democrats would be in charge of all committees overseeing their actions.
It has not escaped my attention that the day social media companies decided there actually IS more they could do to police Trump’s destructive behavior was the same day they learned Democrats would chair all the congressional committees that oversee them.
— Jennifer Palmieri (@jmpalmieri) January 7, 2021
There have been many references to regimes silencing their opposition in history. Social media companies today are walking a fine line.
Copyright 2021, HorizonPost.com