Big Tech has leveraged its power and influence to suppress political dissent, conservative view points, and information that inconveniences their own perspectives and agendas. From suppressing information about the origins of Covid-19, shadowbanning conservative commentators, or deplatforming the sitting president of the United States, Big Tech has shown itself to be an enemy of our fundamental freedoms.

Worse, much of this censorship was done with the knowledge, cooperation, and even at the request of the federal government. This Government-Big Tech alliance in opposition to free speech is nothing short of un-American. 

The new administration has committed itself to protecting free speech and de-weaponizing the federal government. To aid that process, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched a public inquiry to better understand how technology platforms deny or degrade users’ access to services based on the content of their speech or affiliations, and how this conduct may have violated the law.

The FTC writes:

Censorship by technology platforms is not just un-American, it is potentially illegal. Tech firms can employ confusing or unpredictable internal procedures that cut users off, sometimes with no ability [to] appeal the decision. Such actions taken by tech platforms may harm consumers, affect competition, may have resulted from a lack of competition, or may have been the product of anti-competitive conduct. 

The FTC is now gathering information and they want to hear your story! Heritage Action has created a form to give you the opportunity to write directly to the FTC if you have experienced any of this kind of censorship and to detail exactly what happened. 

This will help them gain a greater understanding of the extent that censorship has taken place so that they can better craft policies that prevent Big Tech firms from violating the law by silencing and intimidating Americans for speaking their minds.

Tech platform users who have been banned, shadow banned, demonetized, or otherwise censored are encouraged to share their comments. The FTC is interested in understanding how consumers—including by potentially unfair or deceptive acts or practices, or potentially unfair methods of competition—have been harmed by the policies of tech firms. 

If you or anyone you know has experienced Big Tech censorship, now is your opportunity to do something about it. 

>>>Write to the FTC and tell them your story. Include as many details as possible so the FTC and properly understand what happened. 

Here are some things to think about when writing your comment:

• What platform censored you?

• How were you censored? (E.g., Labeled as misinformation? Content removed? Shadow banned? Demonetized? etc…)

• What was the impact on you, your family, employees, friends, or followers/clients?

• Did the platform tell you about their action to censor you? And did they provide a reasonable and specific explanation? 

• Did the platform give you the option to appeal the censorship? What was the result?

Submit your comment today! Comments must be submitted by May 21, 2025.