Big Tech Censorship: FTC Chairman Announces Investigation, Asks Victims to Submit Reports

Big Tech Censorship: FTC Chairman Announces Investigation, Asks Victims to Submit Reports

On February 20, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched a public inquiry into Big Tech censorship practices.

The investigation was announced by FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson, who was appointed by President Donald Trump in January 2025 to replace Lina Khan.

The FTC aims to investigate how technology platforms deny or degrade users’ access to services based on the content of their speech or affiliations, and whether such actions may violate laws related to consumer harm, competition, or anti-competitive conduct.

The inquiry targets a wide range of technology platforms, including social media giants (e.g., Meta Platforms Inc.), ride-sharing companies (e.g., Uber Technologies Inc.), video and photo-sharing services, and online communication tools.

The FTC is requesting public comments from individuals who have experienced censorship—such as banning, shadow banning, demonetization, or degraded services—due to their speech or affiliations. It also seeks input from tech platform employees who have witnessed such practices.

The public has until May 21, 2025, to submit comments online via Regulations.gov. Private reports can be filed at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Chairman Ferguson has described Big Tech censorship as “un-American” and “potentially illegal,” suggesting that opaque or unpredictable internal policies may constitute unfair or deceptive practices under consumer protection laws or anti-competitive behavior under antitrust laws.

The FTC is asking about instances where users were censored without notice, explanation, or appeal opportunities, and whether such actions were motivated by pressure from local, state, federal, or foreign governments.

Ferguson’s initiative contrasts with the previous FTC Chair Lina Khan’s focus on aggressive antitrust enforcement against Big Tech, indicating a shift in priorities toward addressing censorship and free speech issues.

The inquiry follows years of Republican-led concerns about alleged bias against conservative viewpoints on tech platforms, as well as high-profile cases like the temporary bans of former President Donald Trump from platforms like Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook after January 6, 2021.

These facts are derived from consistent reporting across multiple sources as of the current date, February 20, 2025. The investigation’s outcomes and further developments remain pending as the public comment period progresses.