President Donald Trump described Big Tech censorship as one of the “new challenges to liberty” and declared that “a free society cannot allow social media giants to silence the voices of the people.”
President Trump blasted social media during his speech at the UN, and covered its problems ranging from blacklisting to censorship.
"We must always be skeptical of those who want conformity and control,” he warned. “Even in free nations we see alarming signs and new challenges to liberty.”
He elaborated on how a “small number of social media platforms are acquiring immense power over what we can see and over what we are allowed to say.”
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Trump let the UN know that “my administration has made clear to social media companies that we will uphold the right of free speech.” He made clear that he believes “A free society cannot allow social media giants to silence the voices of the people” and that “a free people must never, ever be enlisted in the cause of silencing, coercing, canceling or blacklisting their own neighbors.”
Washington Examiner’s coverage said that, “while Trump has been critical of social media companies in the past and has accused them of silencing conservatives, he has also been hesitant to propose any regulations on the companies.”
Trump, wary of slippery slopes that could lead to restrictions on speech, also refused to sign the Christchurch call for censorship against “violent extremism,” and took heat from multiple liberal news outlets for it.
Several Big Tech giants signed onto the call for action, including Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, and YouTube. National governments such as those of the U.K, Germany, France, Norway, Spain, and Sweden had agreed to the proposal as well.
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