Mace, Comer, and Oversight Republicans Press for Information about Government Officials’ Collusion with Big Tech to Censor Americans

Send letters to Facebook and Twitter requesting information as part of investigation into First Amendment violations

WASHINGTON — Today, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Subcommittee Ranking Member Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.), and Oversight Republicans sent letters to the Chief Executive Officer of Meta Platforms, Inc., Mark Zuckerberg, and Twitter Owner, Elon Musk, requesting documents and communications to assist with the investigation into U.S. government officials’ efforts to suppress free speech on social media platforms. 

“Committee Republicans continue to investigate whether U.S. government officials have participated in suppression and censorship of lawful speech in violation of the U.S. Constitution. Reports continue to surface that social media companies acted on behest of government agencies and officials when removing, restricting, or disclaiming content. The American people and their elected representatives must know the extent to which their government has engaged in prohibited censorship to expose and prevent this unlawful conduct. We request documents and communications from your company to assist our investigation and to uncover any unconstitutional actions by government officials or agents working on their behalf,” wrote the lawmakers.

The U.S. Constitution prohibits government actors from abridging freed of speech, either directly or indirectly. Despite clear constitutional limits on government action, reports continue to surface that U.S. government officials and agencies have conducted censorship campaigns involving social media platforms. While private companies may choose to independently curate and moderate content based on their own independent policies, government action to pressure or direct a private company to suppress the speech of certain citizens crosses a line. 

“The government, in concert with social media, should not tell Americans what they can and cannot say online. The Biden Administration’s penchant for censorship under the guise of suppressing ‘misinformation’ raises questions as to whether individuals within the Administration compelled companies such as Twitter and Facebook to censor Americans,” continued the lawmakers.

Read the letter to Elon Musk here.

Read the letter to Mark Zuckerberg here.