Capitol Hill’s conservatives are waging a multi-front war against the tech industry in retaliation for ousting President Trump and others on the right, congressional sources tell Axios.
Why it matters: If you are in the minority, you find out who you are as a party. As Republicans look to Democrats, they are looking for a unifying issue. This is one, at least for now.
What we hear: Members are again talking about breaking up businesses, withdrawing their legal protections, and calling their leaders for a witness. However, they are biting their tongues to prevent further damage to their brand after the Capitol siege.
But, but, but: Some are starting on the offensive against the companies, at least online and in conservative media.
- Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Who will lead Republicans on the Senate Trade Committee, demanded answers from Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google and Twitter CEOs on Tuesday about their treatment of conservatives.
- Speaking on Fox News last week, Wicker said, “It is already bigger than Donald Trump. It amounts to a suffocation of free speech.”
What they say: Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Who became the poster child for Republican overreach after the election, said Congress should consider splitting the companies and accept Trump’s call to repeal Section 230.
- That part of the Communications Decency Act protects platforms from liability for the content their users post.
- “We had known for a while that the tech monopolies were in the process of knocking out conservative votes. Now they have banned or censored several conservatives within days,” Hawley told Axios.
Other Republicans agree, although it is unclear what they can do in the Congressional minority.
- “President Trump’s censorship proves how much power Big Tech has over speech in America,” said Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.). “The way to keep Big Tech in check is to tackle blatant antitrust crimes and support state efforts to hold these companies to account.”
Yes but: Complaints of bias only go so far, especially since right-facing pages do particularly well on Facebook.
- Democrats and progressives in particular complain that Big Tech has provided a safe haven for the worst elements of the right, including white supremacists.
Hill damage: Apple has contacted GOP offices to explain and justify Parler’s suspension. Facebook has also reached out after banning Trump from discussing conservative claims of censorship, a GOP House assistant said.
- Apple CEO Tim Cook told Fox News that if Parler “gets his moderation together,” it will be back in the App Store.
- To Facebook, the Trump ban is a clear sign that the company is well aware of the rise of the Democrats in Washington, but making amends with conservatives will also have to remain a priority.