US Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) took part in a hearing titled, ‘Terrorism and Social Media: #IsBigTechDoingEnough?’ He is member of the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The hearing was examining the methods social media platforms are taking to fight the spread of extremist propaganda over social networks and the Internet in general.

Cruz’s line of questioning was full of surprises, and he talked about his concerns about social media platforms’ decisions to shut down or stifle political speech (and preach).
“The pattern of political censorship we are seeing across the technology companies is highly concerning. And the opening question I asked of whether you are a neutral public forum — if you are a neutral public forum, that does not allow for political editorializing and censorship. And if you are not a neutral public forum, the entire predicate for liability immunity under the CDA [Communications Decency Act] is claiming to be a neutral public forum, so you cannot have it both ways,” Cruz said.

Four witnesses had their word at the hearing, including Monika Bickert, Head of Global Policy Management, Facebook; Juniper Downs, Global Head of Public Policy and Government Relations, YouTube; Carlos Monje, Director, Public Policy and Philanthropy, U.S. & Canada, Twitter; Clinton Watts, Robert A. Fox Fellow, Foreign Policy Research Institute.

We bet that Cruz will gain a few supporters here and there. He made a few good remarks, and let’s just say that many Americans liked his views.

What do you think about this? Do you agree with Ted Cruz?

Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfV6ldIbjI