[President Trump’s First Order in Office Seeks to End “Federal Censorship” and “Restore Freedom of Speech”
One of President Donald Trump’s first actions in the Oval Office was to sign an executive order aimed at “restoring freedom of speech and ending federal censorship” of US citizens. The order bans federal officials from conduct that would “unconstitutionally abridge the free speech of any American citizen” and instructs the Attorney General to investigate if the Biden administration engaged in efforts to censor Americans.
Right-wing media figures and some Republicans in Congress have long decried efforts by Democrats and technology platforms to censor their speech online, especially around the Covid-19 pandemic and elections. Trump’s order is seen by many as the fulfillment of his promise to end government collusion with Big Tech platforms to censor their voices.
However, some experts have warned that the move will only further the spread of false information on social media, which can become dangerous in times of crises. Nina Jankowicz, former leader of the Biden administration’s disinformation board, called Trump’s order a “direct assault on reality” that “emboldens both foreign actors and disinformation profiteers.”
Disinformation experts say that Trump’s order is moot, as many social media platforms have taken steps to expand language allowed on their services, while others argue that it may have a chilling effect on relations between government agencies and tech platforms, potentially harming national security.
Some have also warned that the order could be used by the new administration to engage in its own form of censorship by directing the Attorney General to investigate the previous administration’s actions. Experts note that there is an alternative version of the executive order that would have been a genuine victory for free speech.
Ending disinformation enforcement efforts could also lead to more abuse and harassment online, said USA Today disinformation reporter Alia Dastagir.
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