(HorizonPost.com) – The so-called hate speech watchdog the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) last week responded to a request for information from House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan by pushing back on allegations about its interactions with social media companies and the government, The Hill reported.
In a letter sent earlier this month, Chairman Jordan requested documents from CCDH related to its involvement in the federal government’s attempts to censor information on social media platforms.
Jordan requested all communications between the group and the Executive Branch that refer to the suppression, demonetization, or censorship of content on social media as well as any communications between CCDH and social media companies related to suppression or censorship.
Jordan also requested a list of any funding CCDH received from the federal government and if any of those funds went to the group’s efforts to suppress or censor social media content.
In a letter responding to Jordan’s request, Andrew Herman, an attorney for CCDH, suggested that the Judiciary Committee does not understand the group’s “mission and work” and said the group is “compelled to set the record straight.”
Herman maintained that CCDH is a 501(c)(3) charity and asserted that it takes its obligation to “remain nonpolitical and nonpartisan” seriously. He argued that the group has worked with both Democrat and Republican administrations, including the Trump administration.
He asserted that CCDH receives no federal grants as it is entirely funded by “private donors.”
Herman also questioned the timing between Chairman Jordan’s letter and a lawsuit filed by Twitter (AKA X), saying while it might be a coincidence, the group would “not be dissuaded” by public pressure, congressional inquiry, or a lawsuit from pursuing its mission to counter hate speech.
X Corp, the parent company of Elon Musk’s social media platform, sent a letter to CCDH in late July threatening legal action over the group’s “baseless claims” about Twitter (AKA X). Chairman Jordan’s letter to CCDH was sent two weeks later.
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