In response to controversies about pandemics, elections, and whatnot, Congress did not quite pass — nor President Biden quite sign — a new law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press. (As far as I know.)
Biden’s government did act, regardless, with the force of law to shut people up. According to the Media Research Center’s new report on Biden censorship — ready to be shared with all who contend that his administration perfectly respected our freedom of speech — the cabal I call The Biden censored Americans using four approaches:
Direct action. For example, ordering a big tech firm or a judge to censor somebody. White house advisors, agency bureaucrats, and others exerted this kind of pressure.
Policy or rulemaking. Examples include the State Department’s agreement with foreign nations “to pressure Tech platforms to censor more” and Homeland Security’s attempt to create a Disinformation Governance Board to police speech.
Partnerships with state and private actors to censor speech. Biden’s National Security Council collaborated with the UK’s Counter Disinformation Unit to impose UK censorship on Americans.
Grants to organizations to attack and flag utterance of incorrect speech, which the government could then censor.
These were effectuated, by MRC’s count, with 57 initiatives.
As soon as he began his second term, President Trump issued executive orders to combat such muzzling of debate. Congress must do its part too.
No matter what defenses are put in place, though, we will see further attempts by government goons to gag us. We must be vigilant.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
Illustration created with Krea and Firefly
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