In a recent development, a significant online service provider, Bonterra, has agreed to comply with Senator Ted Cruz’s request for documents related to its decision to deplatform conservative groups. This decision came shortly after Cruz had announced plans to subpoena the company for these documents. Bonterra will now provide information regarding canceled contracts with the Independent Women’s Forum and the Pennsylvania Family Institute to Cruz’s office by March 19.
Senator Cruz, who leads the Senate Commerce Committee, had initially stated his intention to subpoena Bonterra for internal documents and communications concerning its treatment of conservative organizations. The company’s swift agreement to produce the requested documents is seen as a victory for groups like the Independent Women’s Forum and the Pennsylvania Family Institute, whose contracts were terminated due to their beliefs.
The documents being sought include communications between Bonterra and any third parties involved in advising the company on its business ethics provision or anti-hate speech policy. Additionally, the committee will request communications with third parties who identified users for alleged violations, as well as documents that will help identify accounts removed by Bonterra for hate speech.
Bonterra had previously justified its decision to sever ties with the Independent Women’s Forum by citing the organization’s opposition to transgender ideology as anti-LGBT. Despite this, the Independent Women’s Forum is a conservative nonprofit that focuses on informing women about policy issues that impact them and their families. Notably, it has been vocal in defending women’s sports against challenges from transgender-identifying individuals.
Senator Cruz has made it clear that he will act swiftly to compel Bonterra to fulfill its obligations to the committee should the company fail to do so. This ongoing investigation sheds light on the complexities of tech companies’ decisions to deplatform certain groups based on their beliefs, raising important questions about the influence of political ideologies in online service provision.