Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) is arguing the Biden administration’s work with Big Tech companies to crack down on misinformation is “deeply concerning.”
Fox News obtained a letter Blackburn wrote to President Joe Biden on Friday.
“These revelations are deeply concerning,” Blackburn wrote. “The blatant actions by your administration to work with Big Tech companies to censor Americans’ free speech are shocking — and arguably a violation of the First Amendment.”
Blackburn proceeded to ask Biden questions she had about the process.
“What criteria are you directing social media platforms to use to flag and remove posts?” she asked, adding, “What criteria are you directing social media platforms to use to ban users?”
Blackburn also questioned Biden on what the legal basis is “for your Administration’s decision to direct social media platforms to flag and remove posts from their sites?”
She continued, “Does the White House have staff dedicated to searching social media for content to flag for removal?”
The president blasted Facebook on Friday, saying, “They’re killing people. The only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated and they’re killing people.”
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said last week the Biden administration is “flagging problematic posts for Facebook that spread disinformation.”
During a press briefing on Friday, Psaki battled with Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy over whether the administration is “spying” on Americans, as IJR reported.
“As you know, we’re in regular touch with a range of media outlets… As we are in regular touch with social media platforms. This is publicly open information, people sharing information online, just as you are all reporting information on your news stations,” Psaki said.
She added, “Our biggest concern here, and frankly, I think it should be your biggest concern, is the number of people who are dying around the country because they’re getting misinformation that is leading them to not take a vaccine.”