House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan has issued a subpoena to Alphabet, seeking documents related to communications between the company and the executive branch. The request also includes internal Alphabet communications about these interactions and any discussions with third parties potentially collaborating with the executive branch. This action is part of an ongoing investigation into whether the Biden-Harris Administration exerted pressure on companies, including Alphabet, to censor lawful speech.
The Committee's findings indicate that YouTube, owned by Alphabet, played a role in what it describes as a federal censorship regime. Documents obtained suggest that YouTube was influenced by government pressure to remove content that did not breach its own moderation policies.
In previous oversight during the 118th Congress, evidence surfaced showing repeated attempts by the Biden-Harris Administration to influence online platforms to restrict American speech. Following this revelation, Meta Platforms acknowledged its compliance with such demands and pledged to uphold free speech principles across Facebook and Instagram. However, according to the Committee, Alphabet has not yet made a similar commitment against governmental interference in content moderation.
Chairman Jim Jordan
| House Committee on the Judiciary website
The purpose of obtaining these documents is to aid in drafting potential legislation aimed at limiting executive power over technology companies regarding content regulation and user deplatforming. The Committee seeks clarity on how deeply intertwined government actions were with corporate decisions affecting American speech rights.
