House Judiciary Committee Subpoenas Alphabet, Meta, Other Tech Giants Over ‘Foreign Censorship’ of Speech

House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, Sent subpoenas To eight technology companies asking for more information about their communications with foreign governments over concerns that they seek to “censor speech” in the us

The subpoenas were sent wedding to the ceos of google parent Alphabet, Meta, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft And tiktok, as well as x and video platform rumble.

“The committee must understand how and to what extent foreign governments have Limited Americans’ Access to Lawful Speech in the United States, As Well as the Extenant to Which The Biden-Harris admin Abetted these efforts, “Jordan said in a statement.

CNBC Reached Out to Each of the subpoenaed companies for comment. A spokesperson for microsoft said the company is engaged with the panel and “committed to working in good fath.”

A rumble speakesperson said it to self expression. “

Jordan pointed to the european union’s Digital services actA similar set of laws in the UK, Called the Online Services Act, and Regulations Around Illegal Content and Hate Speech in Brazil and Australia.

The committee is seeking communications Around the company ‘Compliance with “Foreign Censorship Laws, Regulations, Judicial Orders or other Government-Initiated Effts” Correspondence discusing theose matters.

The subpoenas come after the federal trade commission Last Week Launched An Inquiry Into “Tech Censorship.” Ftc Chair Andrew Ferguson said in a statement that the probe will help the agency “Better understand how these firms may have violated the law by selencing and intimating americans for speaking their minds.”

The FTC’s Request for Public Comment Defines Tech Platforms as Companies that Provide a range of services, from social media and video sharing to event planning and ride sharing.

The republican-Led Committee has previously accused Major Tech Companies of Censorship. The Panel subpoenaed alphabet, meta and other firms in 2023Demanding They Turn Over Communications Between the companies and the US government over censorship concerns.

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