DHS Alejandro Mayorkas: Silicon Valley ‘Committed’ to Speech Curbs

Alejandro Mayorkas, the nation’s zealously pro-migration border chief, says the nation’s technology companies want to curb Americans’ speech that is deemed “misinformation.”

“I think they’re very committed to doing so,” Mayorkas told a Bloomberg interview on December 14. He continued:

I had very robust discussions with individuals [in Silicon Valley and the tech sector]. You know, the “How to accomplish it?” is something that is not easily navigated. We recognize that the First Amendment concerns are extraordinarily important. It’s a founding principle of our country. I think they’re very dedicated to doing so. And I think the “How to” and “How we can work together” … is something we’re all working through.

Misinformation “is very much within our domain,” Mayorkas said:

Misinformation — pointedly, disinformation — has very serious and significant ramifications for [the Department of] homeland security [and] the integrity of our election system. The security of our election system is a prime example of that.

And so, our office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans under Rob Silver’s leadership, CISA [Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency] under Jen Easterly’s leadership, John Cohen leading the office of intelligence and analysis in an acting capacity, Samantha Winograd, a senior counselor to the secretary and our Acting Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism — these are individuals very much involved in their respective workforces, very much involved in addressing misinformation, disinformation, and the threats that they pose to the homeland.