Scientists Respond to FTC Inquiry into Tech Censorship

On February 20, 2025, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced an inquiry into “how technology platforms deny or degrade users’ access to services based on the content of their speech or affiliations, and how this conduct may have violated the law.” In its request for public comment, the FTC further claims that platforms may do so using “opaque or unpredictable internal procedures,” with little explanation, notice, or opportunity for appeal.

Anna Lenhart Policy Fellow, Institute for Data Democracy and Politics, The George Washington University

David A. Broniatowski Professor, Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering, The George Washington University