Big tech is quietly preparing for Democratic scrutiny as Trump tries to crack down on free speech
User data has been subpoenaed by ICE to investigate speech critical of Trump's immigration policy.
Big tech companies are quietly preparing for potential Democratic scrutiny as President Trump attempts to tighten regulations on free speech. Following the recent midterm elections, platforms such as Google and Meta are proactively defying Trump's orders to hand over user data critical of his immigration policies. With a shift towards potential Democratic leadership in Congress, tech companies are attempting to pre-empt future investigations.
Industry experts predict that such scrutiny will include questions about how companies have complied with subpoenas from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Congress has recently held up a spotlight on the actions of ICE, with allegations of wiretapping protestors, critics, and journalists. ICE has also expanded the definition of doxing to include names and titles, raising concerns about how social media platforms and search engines have complied with requests for user information.
These platforms have been hit with administrative subpoenas, bypassing the need for judicial approval. Companies such as YouTube and other social media channels have been targeted by ICE, prompting some to push back on requests to protect themselves from potential Congressional probes. Lawmakers have criticized ICE's use of subpoenas, alleging that it is being used to intimidate and suppress free speech.
In response to these concerns, tech companies are updating their terms of use to provide greater transparency on how data could be handed over to authorities.
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