Congressman Jim Jordan praised Google’s recent decision to reinstate YouTube creators who were previously banned under the Biden administration. He called this move “a win for free expression.”
In a statement to The Daily Wire, Jordan highlighted that Google, along with its parent company Alphabet, admitted in a letter that they had faced pressure from the Biden administration to censor conservative voices discussing topics like election integrity and COVID-19. Jordan noted that some creators had been completely removed from the platform, but now they will be allowed to return. He emphasized that the company has also decided not to rely on fact-checkers, which he believes tend to be biased against conservative viewpoints.
Alphabet’s announcement on Tuesday expressed a commitment to free expression, stating it would give creators a chance to come back if their channels were terminated for violations of now-defunct policies regarding COVID-19 and election integrity. Among those banned were Dan Bongino and Sebastian Gorka, who are now involved in the Trump administration.
Jordan, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, reflected on the Biden administration’s aggressive censorship tactics. He mentioned the controversial establishment of a "disinformation governance board," which he described as an alarming attempt to control what people can say and share.
Despite this positive development, Jordan warned that the U.S. could soon face similar restrictions to those seen in Europe. He pointed to the European Union’s Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act, which could impose strict speech regulations on American platforms.
He also raised concerns about the potential for American citizens to face consequences for their speech, similar to recent incidents in the UK. For example, Irish comedian Graham Linehan was arrested for comments he made online about transgender individuals. While Americans currently enjoy more freedom to express their views without fear of arrest, Jordan cautioned that suppression from platforms like YouTube remains a significant threat.
Jordan believes it’s only a matter of time before an American faces serious repercussions for their speech online. He expressed particular concern regarding YouTube and the platform’s power over creators.
