Federal Trade Commission's Focus on Online Speech

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is exploring claims of big tech censorship, with new chair Andrew Ferguson advocating for evidence submission from individuals who feel they have been censored online. This approach raises First Amendment concerns as governmental intervention in private platform operations could blur the lines of free speech rights. Additionally, the FTC's inquiry is examining whether content moderation decisions could be linked to market power, suggesting that antitrust consideration might be at play in discussions about online speech. Critics argue that using antitrust regulations for content moderation issues is inappropriate, emphasizing that competition policy should not dictate how private companies manage their platforms.