The recent House Judiciary Committee on July 27 saw a heated confrontation centered on censorship complaints against Big Tech, with particular emphasis on perceived incursions on rights to free speech. The remarks came from Rep. Mike Johnson (R-AL) as he confronted DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, addressing concerns regarding repeated instances of government-led censorship primarily targeting conservative views on several Big Tech platforms.
The crux of the dispute arose when Johnson questioned Mayorkas’ stance on alleged “misinformation” online. He challenged the DHS Secretary’s viewpoint, arguing that it could lead to chilling effects on constitutionally guaranteed free speech.
“Who determines what’s inaccurate? Who determines what’s false? Do you understand the problem here?” posed Johnson. Such was the gravity felt by Johnson on the issue, that he saw the need of reminding Mayorkas about the fundamental significance of the First Amendment to United States democracy — an implication, perhaps, that these basic rights should be maintained regardless of the changing digital landscape.
