Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy recently tapped U.S. Representative Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) to serve on a taskforce taking aim at the largest technology companies that have an outsized influence in the industry and the country.

The Big Tech, Censorship, and Data Taskforce is tasked with proposing policies to address political bias and anti-competitive practices at the companies as well as strengthening privacy protections for consumers.  

“Big Tech has become little more than a tool for Washington Democrats to advance their woke, socialist agenda,” Carter said.  “From silencing conservatives to promoting Democrat narratives surrounding public policy debates, the notion of impartiality at these platforms is out the window.  We must do more to hold these companies accountable, promote free speech, protect consumers, and foster competition to unleash innovation.”

In a letter to his colleagues proposing a framework for the panel, McCarthy slammed the technology companies for their attacks on free speech and anti-competitive actions.

“Over 90 percent of search happens on Google and 90 percent of users drop off after first-page results,” the letter read. “The ability to stack the deck protects the willing participants of the scheme and punishes the non-compliant. The same gatekeeper effect lies with Amazon and Apple. If your company or product doesn’t meet the criteria of corporate wokeism, it’s increasingly likely Americans won’t find it on these platforms.”

Beyond their history of targeting conservatives online, Carter says the companies need to do more to address the illegal activities taking place on their platforms.

During a March hearing, Carter took Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to task for allowing human traffickers to promote their illegal activity on the platform as they seek to exploit the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Similarly, Carter questioned Zuckerberg during a 2018 hearing for not doing enough to block drug traffickers for selling deadly fentanyl on the platform.

“It’s absurd that these companies attempt to virtue signal by silencing conservatives while turning a blind eye to human, drug, and animal trafficking,” said Carter.