Last year, Twitter made its removal of President Trump’s account permanent, a decision the company initiated after the Capitol riot. This rankled many — including some people on the political left — who realized how dependent lawmakers are on social media for constituent outreach. It inflamed social media companies’ relationship with Republicans, who have increasingly allied with Democrats — including in state antitrust cases, congressional hearings, and punitive bills — to scrutinize the sector’s social and political power.
These responses don’t fix the real problem of online free speech; they distract lawmakers and company executives. A truce is possible if social media companies declare that, in the name of free speech and democratic norms, they will resist removing the accounts of public officials and public agencies. It’s not about letting politicians off the hook. It’s about Silicon Valley executives recognizing that, for many Americans, social media has replaced town hall meetings and public hearings as a venue for interacting with their representatives, regulators, and school boards.
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