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Government-enforced censorship exposed: Big Tech admits collusion with Biden admin to silence COVID dissent

By bellecarter // 2025-11-03

• Senators, led by Ted Cruz (R-TX), grilled Meta and Google executives over compliance with Biden administration requests to suppress COVID-19-related content contradicting official narratives, raising concerns about government overreach in silencing free speech.
• Google admitted to White House pressure but defended its "independent" moderation policies, while Meta conceded regret for yielding to government demands and announced policy reversals, including ending third-party fact-checking.
• Cruz accused Google of suppressing election-fraud claims from both parties under the guise of preventing "real-world harm," contrasting its stance with Meta's admission of wrongdoing.
• Cruz announced plans for the Jawbone Act to prevent government-coerced censorship by private platforms, citing First Amendment violations when corporations act as government proxies.
• The hearing highlighted escalating tensions over who controls online discourse, with experts warning that government-corporate collusion risks eroding digital democracy and free public debate.

A Senate hearing last week scrutinized Meta and Google executives over their companies' compliance with Biden administration requests to suppress Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19)-related content, raising concerns about government overreach in online speech moderation. The hearing, titled "Shut Your App: How Uncle Sam Jawboned Big Tech Into Silencing Americans, Part II," focused on allegations that federal officials pressured tech giants to remove posts, demonetize accounts and downgrade disfavored viewpoints—particularly those contradicting official pandemic narratives. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), chairing the session, warned that such coordination threatens free speech and democratic discourse. Cruz opened the hearing by accusing the Biden administration of leveraging its influence to suppress lawful speech during the pandemic. "The right to speak out is the foundation of a free society," Cruz said. "Censorship around the world is growing, and today we pick up where the story left off—examining how Meta and Google were pressured by the Biden administration to censor the American people." Markham Erickson, Google's Vice President of Government Affairs, acknowledged that White House officials had contacted the company, urging the removal of COVID-related content from YouTube, but insisted that Google maintained independent moderation policies. "While we are dedicated to making the world's information universally accessible, we have rules against harmful content," Erickson said. He emphasized that Google rejected requests that didn't align with its policies but admitted that senior administration officials conducted "repeated and sustained outreach" to push for removals. Neil Potts, Meta's Vice President of Public Policy, took a more conciliatory tone, conceding that the company had yielded to pressure from the White House and expressing regret. "We believe that government pressure was wrong and wish we had been more outspoken about it," Potts said. He noted Meta's recent policy shifts, including ending third-party fact-checking and loosening restrictions on political content. The hearing grew contentious when Cruz pressed Erickson on Google's removal of a YouTube video compiling election-fraud claims from both major parties. "Should statements by presidential candidates about election integrity be considered newsworthy?" Cruz asked. Erickson replied, "Yes, that is news," but defended YouTube's post-election policies, citing concerns about "real-world harm." Cruz accused Google of ideological bias, contrasting its stance with Meta’s admission of regret. "Google's unwillingness to express regret reflects a level of contempt for free speech that does not reflect well," Cruz said.

Legal and legislative implications

The hearing follows Cruz's earlier report exposing the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's (CISA) alleged role in covert censorship campaigns, which, according to BrightU.AI's Enoch, revealed how the agency worked with Big Tech and government-funded groups to suppress free speech under the guise of combating "misinformation." Cruz warned that such tactics could extend to artificial intelligence regulation, further entrenching government control over digital discourse. He announced plans to introduce the Jawbone Act, legislation aimed at protecting Americans from government-coerced censorship by private platforms. "In a free society, people govern by speaking freely without government retaliation," Cruz said. "We must empower citizens to hold officials accountable." Legal experts testified that government-directed censorship, even through intermediaries, risks violating the First Amendment. Will Creeley of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression warned that "when private companies act as government proxies, free speech suffers." The hearing underscores escalating tensions between tech firms, lawmakers and free-speech advocates over who controls online discourse. While Meta has taken steps toward transparency, Google's defense of its policies suggests a continuing divide in Silicon Valley's response to government influence. As Cruz pushes for legislative safeguards, the broader question remains: Can free speech survive in an era where governments and corporations increasingly collaborate to shape—and suppress—public debate? The answer may determine the future of digital democracy itself. Watch the video below that talks about how Biden coerced Google to censor. This video is from the Recharge Freedom channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

ReclaimTheNet.org Commerce.Senate.gov BrightU.ai Brighteon.com

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