FTC Launches Investigation into Tech Platforms' Censorship and Content Moderation Practices
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently launched an inquiry into the issue of censorship by tech platforms, with a focus on how these companies manage speech and affiliations. The inquiry, announced on February 20, 2025, seeks input from individuals who feel they’ve been censored or demonetized due to their opinions or affiliations. This move follows growing concerns about the power that social media giants hold over free expression, especially for creators. In a statement, FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson expressed concern that tech companies should not "bully their users" and emphasized the need for clarity on whether such practices violate the law. However, the request for public comments does not specify which laws these platforms might be violating. Critics, however, question whether the FTC’s intervention could infringe upon the First Amendment. The Legal and Ethical Dilemma One of the most contentious points in this inquiry is the intersection between free speech and the…
