House Republicans issue subpoena to Google over alleged censorship.
The House Judiciary Committee is investigating whether the Biden administration held conversations with Alphabet regarding the removal of content.
Republicans in Congress have once again turned their attention to Google due to accusations of censorship, according to reports. The House Judiciary Committee has issued a subpoena to Google’s parent company, Alphabet, as well as its CEO, Sundar Pichai, to obtain evidence of communication between the tech company and the Biden administration. This subpoena specifically requests documentation regarding interactions between Alphabet and the executive branch, as well as internal discussions or those with third parties concerning such communications.
The Committee’s goal is to use information about the Biden administration's requests to Meta to remove COVID-19-related misinformation as a basis for establishing "new legal limits on the executive branch's ability to collaborate with Big Tech in restricting content dissemination and deactivating users." Although these concerns are not particularly new, Pichai and other tech leaders have previously appeared before Congress to address issues such as content moderation, censorship, and bias.
So far, executive appearances in Congress have seemed more like a means for lawmakers to obtain sensational statements. However, the aggressive and retaliatory nature of the Trump administration could lend these new demands a more serious focus. Despite having contributed to Trump’s inauguration funding and attending photo sessions, Google has not managed to avoid the antitrust process against it, unless it finds a way to evade it.
While tech companies are under Congress's radar, there does not seem to be concern over the possibility that the current administration might consider making censorship claims. For his part, former President Trump has expressed his interest in utilizing the Take It Down Act, a bill aimed at holding websites accountable for hosting and failing to remove non-consensual intimate images. Despite warnings about potential abuses of this law, the bill has been approved in the Senate and is now awaiting review by the House of Representatives.