Several prominent House Republicans have created a new caucus in their battle to rein in Big Tech’s growing power.
Reps. Ken Buck (R-CO) and Lance Gooden (R-TX) launched the Freedom from Big Tech Caucus to fight back against Big Tech. “Big Tech companies operate under an ‘America last’ mindset that has negatively affected consumers and small businesses across the country while benefiting China and entrenching their gatekeeper power,” said Buck’s press release on the caucus.
Buck and Gooden serve as co-chairs of the caucus, according to the press release. Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) serves as vice-chair, and Reps. Burgess Owens (R-UT) and Paul Gosar (R-AZ) joined as founding members.
The congressmen who make up the caucus have seven key points to take on Big Tech: “The Freedom from Big Tech Caucus will unite Republicans in Congress to rein in Big Tech. Through legislation, education, and awareness, the Freedom from Big Tech Caucus will:
- “Restore the free and dynamic digital economy
- “Promote competition and innovation
- “Protect children from harmful content online
- “Support small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs
- “Protect privacy and data rights
- “End political censorship
- “Counter Big Tech’s courtship of the Chinese Communist Party”
Buck pulled no punches and slammed Big Tech’s total lack of accountability. “‘Big Tech has abused its market power for decades, and Congress must act to hold these companies accountable and preserve the free market, promote competition and innovation, protect the freedom of speech, and foster a thriving digital economy,’” said Buck, according to the press release.
Republicans in the House Judiciary Committee also released their agenda to fight back against Big Tech on July 6. The agenda “presents specific proposals that will speed up and strengthen antitrust enforcement, hold Big Tech accountable for its censorship, and increase transparency around Big Tech’s decisions,” according to a press release. However, it appears that the Freedom from Big Tech Caucus will focus more on censorship and data privacy. The House Judiciary Committee passed six bills aimed at taking down Big Tech’s monopoly power over a two-day marathon markup in June.
The lawmakers have every right to be concerned. Big Tech’s censorship of conservative voices appears to accelerate almost daily — and now with even more pressure from the Biden administration. A recent investigation from MRC Free Speech America found that Amazon’s charity program, AmazonSmile, allows organizations like Planned Parenthood and The Satanic Temple to receive donations from the company. Meanwhile, conservative organizations like the Family Research Council and Alliance Defending Freedom cannot.
Conservatives are under attack. Contact your representatives and demand that Big Tech be held to account to mirror the First Amendment while providing transparency, clarity on “hate speech” and equal footing for conservatives. If you have been censored, contact us using CensorTrack’s contact form, and help us hold Big Tech accountable.
