Capitol Hill conservatives are waging a multi-front war against the tech industry as retribution for misinforming President Trump and other right-wingers, congressional sources told Axios.
Why does it matter: When you are in the minority, you realize who you are as a party. Given that Republicans are now looking at Democrats, they are looking for a unifying issue. This is one, at least for now.
What we hear: Members are talking again about separating companies, repealing their legal protections and calling their leaders to testify. They bit their tongues, however, to prevent further damage to their brand after the siege of the Capitol.
But, but, but: Some are starting to offend companies, at least online and in conservative media.
- Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Who will lead Republicans on the Senate Commerce Committee, on Tuesday asked for answers from CEOs Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google and Twitter about their treatment of conservatives.
- During a Fox News appearance last week, Wicker said, “He’s already bigger than Donald Trump. He’s stifling free speech.”
What are they saying: Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Who became the poster boy for the Republican excess after the election, said Congress should consider splitting companies and adopt Trump’s call to repeal section 230.
- This part of the Communications Decency Act protects platforms from liability for content posted by their users.
- “We have known for some time that technological monopolies were moving towards the closure of conservative voices. Now they have banned or censored more conservatives in a few days,” Hawley told Axios.
Other Republicans agree, although it is not clear what they can do in the congressional minority.
- “President Trump’s censorship proves how much power Big Tech has over speech in America,” said Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.). “The way to curb Big Tech is to tackle blatant antitrust offenses and support the state’s efforts to respond to these companies.”
Yes but: Prejudice complaints go so far, especially that right-angled pages perform well on Facebook.
- Democrats and progressives, in particular, complain that Big Tech has sheltered the worst elements of the right, including the white supremacists.
Hill damage control: Apple contacted the GOP offices trying to explain and justify Parler’s suspension. Facebook also contacted after Trump’s ban on discussing conservative censorship claims, a GOP House adviser said.
- Apple CEO Tim Cook told Fox News that if Parler “gets his moderation,” he will return to the App Store.
- For Facebook, Trump’s ban is a clear sign that the company is well aware of the rise of Democrats in Washington, but the change with the Conservatives will have to remain a priority.