FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr has issued a scathing critique of Big Tech, accusing the industry of colluding to suppress free speech. His comments come as platforms like Elon Musk’s X see record usage, while traditional media outlets such as CNN face steep ratings declines.
Carr, who is widely considered a top candidate to lead the FCC under President-elect Donald Trump, addressed an open letter to major tech CEOs, including Tim Cook of Apple and Sundar Pichai of Google. In the letter, he accused companies of working with organizations like NewsGuard to control narratives and penalize dissenting viewpoints. “The censorship cartel must be dismantled,” Carr declared.
He specifically targeted NewsGuard, an organization that rates the credibility of news outlets, for its alleged bias. Carr highlighted its role in working with advertising agencies to demonetize media outlets that challenge mainstream narratives. He cited a U.S. House Committee on Small Business report, which accused NewsGuard of unfairly influencing the media landscape by “selecting winners and losers.”
The commissioner also pointed to evidence from the Twitter Files, which revealed how tech platforms coordinated with fact-checking groups to suppress content. Carr argued that NewsGuard’s practices, including giving favorable ratings to Chinese propaganda while penalizing American sources, undermine public trust.
Carr demanded that tech companies disclose their partnerships with NewsGuard and similar organizations by December 10. He also called for an end to practices that stifle free expression and limit access to diverse viewpoints online.
“The censorship cartel is an affront to Americans’ constitutional freedoms,” Carr wrote. He urged Big Tech to prioritize transparency and accountability, warning that the future of democracy depends on preserving freedom of speech.
