In a recent development reported by Jody Godoy of Reuters, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has initiated an investigation into the elusive actions taken by major tech platforms. FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson, in an announcement on Thursday, revealed that the agency is actively seeking information regarding the content policies of these tech giants and their decisions to ban users. Ferguson expressed concerns that these practices could potentially amount to censorship and may be in violation of the law.
This investigation comes after Ferguson had previously suggested that the FTC should delve into whether tech platforms have been deceptive towards users or have suppressed conservative speech online. Additionally, the agency aims to explore whether advertisers have colluded to withdraw financial support from platforms like Elon Musk’s X due to content-related issues.
The FTC highlighted that the lack of transparency surrounding content moderation policies may contravene laws prohibiting deceptive business practices. Furthermore, the agency indicated that these practices could be a result of anticompetitive behavior within the tech industry. As part of its inquiry, the FTC has called for public comments on the matter, providing an opportunity for stakeholders to contribute until May 21 through an online platform.
(Reported by Jody Godoy)
