Senate Commerce Committee weighs whether federal officials coerced tech companies to silence users

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a hearing examining whether federal agencies pressured major technology platforms to remove or suppress lawful speech.

Chairman Ted Cruz opened the hearing by invoking free-speech principles and previewing legislation he said he would introduce, the Jawbone Act, to create a private right of action for Americans who can show government-driven censorship. "That's why I will soon introduce new legislation, the Jawbone Act, which will provide a robust right to redress when Americans are targeted by their own government," Cruz said at the outset.

Googleand Meta told the committee they make moderation decisions under their own policies. Mark Erickson, vice president for government affairs and public policy at Google, said the company publishes transparency reports and "develop[s] and enforce[s] our policies…