Trump’s FTC is looking into censorship on tech platforms

The Federal Trade Commission announced on Thursday that it will launch a public inquiry into “censorship by tech platforms,” soliciting comments from people who feel they have been demonetized, banned, or otherwise censored due to their speech or affiliations. “Tech firms should not be bullying their users,” said FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson in a statement. “This inquiry will help the FTC better understand how these firms may have violated the law by silencing and intimidating Americans for speaking their minds.” The FTC’s request for public comment does not specify which laws the FTC believes platforms could be violating. However, the regulator alleges that these policies — which can sometimes cause online creators to lose access to their accounts with no appeals process — could be deemed anti-competitive. Creators have long bemoaned their opaque relationship with big tech platforms. Startups have even emerged to provide creators with insurance to protect against account hacks, wh ... Read full article.