Alphabet Reveals Biden Pressure on Free Speech Policies
Letter outlines government influence
Alphabet, the parent company of Google and YouTube, sent a striking letter to the House Judiciary Committee this week. The company said the Biden administration pressured it during the COVID-19 pandemic to moderate content that did not break its own rules.
Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, released the letter Tuesday. Alphabet’s counsel pledged the company would “keep the digital ecosystem safe, reliable, and open to free expression.”
Alphabet cites pandemic pressure
Alphabet said senior White House officials repeatedly reached out during the pandemic. They pressed the company about user-generated content that contradicted the administration’s positions.
“Senior Biden Administration officials, including White House officials, conducted repeated and sustained outreach … and pressed the Company regarding certain user-generated content related to the COVID-19 pandemic that did not violate its policies,” the letter disclosed.
Company rejects government overreach
Alphabet explained it “grappled with these decisions” as it faced government-encouraged moderation. The letter stressed the company’s stance:
“It is unacceptable and wrong when any government, including the Biden administration, attempts to dictate how the Company moderates content, and the Company has consistently fought against those efforts on First Amendment grounds.”
Future risks from regulators
Beyond U.S. government pressure, Alphabet also warned about global threats. The company said foreign regulators are advancing policies that could undermine free expression in digital spaces.
📌 More Energy Coverage
Source & Credit
Story originally reported by The Daily Signal. Edited and expanded for clarity, readability by Oklahoma Energy Today.