Vice President JD Vance Wise to Europe about American Freedom Obligations is in a collision cycle with some of what is happening in the United States. The Federal Communications Committee and the Federal Trade Committee chairing the opposite direction of the wise observations of Fance.
On February 11, Vans with courage Advocated The height of artificial intelligence in Paris that “American artificial intelligence will not be chosen in a tool for authoritarian control.” After a few days it is He said An audience in Munich, “in Britain and through Europe, freedom of expression, I am afraid, declining.”
His reproduction is well worth. UK It was recently fined A man to pray silently, while no one hinders, near the abortion clinic. Last month, CBS news “60 minutes” slice The most prominent thing about the speech police in Germany by conducting an interview with the prosecutors participating in Predawn raids from homes and electronics raised by people’s comments via the Internet criticizing politicians. Fire collected, the basis for individual rights and expression, another terrible Examples From all over the continent.
Fortunately, the first amendment protects Americans from such violations of freedom of expression rights. This is why the recent procedures by the Trade Committee and the Communications Committee are very strange.
On February 20, I launched FTC General investigation “To better understand how to deprive technology platforms or degrade users’ access to services based on the content of their discourse or their affiliations, and how this behavior may have violated the law.” But because these technology platforms, including Facebook, YouTube and X, are all private companies, the first amendment, which protects citizens from government Control, as noted in Europe, is not involved. The opposite only: The implicit campaign for FTC agreements on speech decisions from private technology companies is the same A threat to freedom of expression.
With a real example, just as you should not expect the first amendment to your speech will apply During your visit Disneyland, do not expect it on the social media platform either. Platforms can be felt and are often referred to as Square Square, but like Disney Land Street, USA, it is not actually a general place. In fact, it is a special property owned by its own freedom of expression and its own interests in coordinating behavior to create a specific environment.
Technology platforms are part of their rights to remove content they do not want to carry, just as Disney can remove you from their gardens if you wave a political sign or hold soap or “speaking” in a way that violates its bases. You may not like the result, but the legality of these expulsions is not a serious question.
The same position is ignored for private activity instead of a constitutional protected government throughout the city on the Federal Communications Committee as well.
Before President Trump rose to the Chairman letter In November to the alphabet, Apple, Meta and Microsoft are accused of participating in “Cartel of Cann Newsguard.
Likewise, it challenges the FCC invasion in the news rooms, the first amendment. The agency is Investigation KCBS all news Radio in San Francisco to cover immigration and customs enforcement activities, which are protected by the first amendment. She also has Restart A previously closed investigation in CBS News for a prior interview with Kamala Harris. This procedure was followed by Trump calling CBS to “lose his license.” The agency also opened investigation In NBCUNIVERSAL and its mother company, comment, private companies, on their DEI practices.
Even before the 2024 presidential elections, Car Declare On the cable news that the agency will discuss whether Harris appears on “Satradai Knight Live” from the NBC channel has violated the “equal time base”, indicating that canceling the license was an option. As it turned out, the Trump campaign was given equal time by the network, but the most important question is the reason why the paradoxical base is still present at all.
This political moment provides an opportunity to get rid of the old time that can be used in favor of either side.
If the rule of time for the broadcasters is logical, it is based on the scarcity of news. But the scene of information and entertainment today is full of cable news, social media, web sites, satellite radio and many other media that exceed licensed broadcasters. Why don’t you get the Federal Communications Committee (FCC), whether it is led by Republicans or Democrats, from the actions of the speech police completely?
The United States must take its own advice and reduce interference in issues on online speech and air waves.
Jessica Milgin is the director of the Technology and Innovation Center at the Institute of Competitive Institutions.