Previous Trump Free Speech Agenda Resurfaces Ahead of New Administration

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Facts

  • Elon Musk has re-circulated a 2022 speech given by US Pres.-elect Donald Trump. In it, he proposed a plan 'to shatter' what he described as 'the left-wing censorship regime' and 'reclaim the right to free speech for all Americans.'[1][2]
  • Trump had said that on day one of his next presidency, he would ban federal agencies from 'colluding with any organization, business or person to censor, limit, categorize or impede' Americans' 'lawful speech.'[2][3]
  • He said he would also 'ban federal money from being used to label domestic speech as 'mis-' or 'dis-information,'' and that he would 'fire' every 'Federal bureaucrat who has engaged in domestic censorship,' adding that he'll have the Justice Department 'investigate all parties involved.'[1]
  • He further pledged to 'ask Congress' to revise Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, adding that 'digital platforms should only qualify for immunity protection...if they meet high standards of neutrality, transparency, fairness, and non-discrimination.'[4][2]
  • Also regarding tech companies, the then-presidential candidate said former members of military or intelligence agencies should have to wait seven years before taking a job 'at a company possessing vast quantities of US User data.'[5]
  • The last point of the plan was a call for a 'Digital Bill of Rights,' which would require government officials to obtain a 'Court Order' rather than send 'information requests' to tech firms when they wish to 'take down online content.'[1][2]

Sources: [1]Sarahwestall, [2]X, [3]The Hill, [4]The Plunge Daily and [5]The Times of India.

Narratives

  • Republican narrative, as provided by Washingtontimes. After years of the FBI, Dept. of Justice, and Dept. of Homeland Security working directly with tech companies to wipe people off the internet, Trump is going to return America to its foundational values. Unlike the Biden administration, Pres. Trump will use his law enforcement power to protect, not diminish, everyone's right to speak about whatever topics they want.
  • Democratic narrative, as provided by Vox. While Trump may promote this agenda as 'free speech'-focused, in reality, he's just protecting the financial interests of tech executives. This new alignment between right-wing politicians and Silicon Valley is aimed at destroying Biden's anti-trust achievements, deregulating the tech sector, and increasing profits for billionaires like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel.

Predictions