Texas AG Demands Information from Big Tech Companies Regarding Censorship

AUSTIN, TX — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wants to investigate the policies and practices regarding content moderation as well as information as to why social media app Parler was deplatformed by Google, Amazon, and Apple.

The silencing of voices online on social media platforms and shutting down competitors has increased over the recent months, the TAG stated.

“And just last week, this discriminatory action included the unprecedented step of removing and blocking President Donald Trump from online media platforms,” Paxton said.

“First Amendment rights and transparency must be maintained for a free online community to operate and thrive. However, the seemingly coordinated de-platforming of the President of the United States and several leading voices not only chills free speech, it wholly silences those whose speech and political beliefs do not align with leaders of Big Tech companies. Every American should be concerned about this large-scale silencing and the effects it will have on the future of free speech,” said Attorney General Paxton. “The public deserves the truth about how these companies moderate and possibly eliminate speech they disagree with. I am hopeful that these companies will set aside partisan politics and cooperate with these CIDs in order to get to the bottom of this contention and ensure a truly free online community consistent with the highest American ideals,” Paxton stated.

Paxton today issued civil investigative demands (CIDs) to Google, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon Web Services, and Apple, asking the companies for their policies and practices regarding content moderation and, more specifically, for information related to Parler, the TAG stated in a press release.