Ross Spano: “Today I rise to bring attention to an alarming trend: the censorship of Americans by American companies, particularly…”

“Today I rise to bring attention to an alarming trend: the censorship of Americans by American companies, particularly those in the social media sector. Over and over, we hear about social media platforms silencing conservatives and their views, only to turn around and ask this Congress for continued liability protections. If social media companies expect such legal protection, they must recognize the fundamental free speech of their users. To be clear, I am not referring to hate speech or calls for violence. I am referring to political views that differ from those who own and manage these companies. As this Congress considers and debates the regulation of these companies into the 21st century, we should take this political censorship into account. No American, no matter what their affiliation or opinions, should ever be prevented from lawfully exercising their constitutional rights, whether online or in person. Social media, for sure, has done wonders to connect people, but it has also been used as a tool to further a specific political agenda, all the while expecting Government's protection, and that must end. ____________________”