The White House is courting intense criticism again Friday after press secretary Jen Psaki said that once users are banned from one social media platform for spreading coronavirus “misinformation,” they should be expelled from all others as well.
Remarking on steps social media outlets could take for public health, she advised they “create robust enforcement strategies that bridge their properties and provide transparency about rules. You shouldn’t be banned from one platform and not others if you are for providing misinformation out there.”
The remarks riled critics already concerned about collaboration between the Biden administration and Big Tech Psaki discussed from the podium on Thursday, as they seek to vaccinate more Americans amid spikes in coronavirus cases in the past few weeks.’
Psaki says if you're banned on one social media platform you should be banned on every social media platform. pic.twitter.com/NinW97xU2z
— The First (@TheFirstonTV) July 16, 2021
“We’re flagging problematic posts for Facebook that spread disinformation. We’re working with doctors and medical experts…who are popular with their audience with accurate information,” she said Thursday. “So, we’re helping get trusted content out there.”
Psaki’s remarks Friday drew bipartisan derision, with critics calling Big Tech outlets “state actors” and ripping the Biden administration for playing judge and jury on truth. One writer said it was a precursor to censoring other so-called “misinformation” on social issues.
“Um, no. F– no,” tweeted The Daily Beast’s Noah Shactman, who will soon take the top editor job at Rolling Stone.
“Why is the White House declaring who should and shouldn’t be banned from social media platforms?” author Vivek Ramaswamy tweeted. “Google, Facebook, and Twitter are effectively state actors in disguise when they engage in political censorship.”
“This is White House directed collusion,” radio host Clay Travis tweeted.
“Removing information on vaccines will translate right over to anything they think is misinformation on gun violence, or climate, or healthcare or what defines a man or woman,” tweeted conservative writer Stephen L. Miller. “Which is why they are doing this.”
There may not be a more important and prescient tweet to show where we are in this country than this from Facebook’s Andy Stone. Don’t ever forget the collusion that happened with Hunter Biden between government, tech and media. It was the beginning.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., tweeted, “[Psaki’s] statement makes it abundantly clear they want people banned for simply disagreeing with the government’s pre-approved narrative.”
Former GOP congressman Joe Walsh, a fierce Trump critic who supported Biden for president, tweeted it’s “not the government’s job to moderate Facebook.”
“Great idea! Maybe the government could helpfully keep a list of which citizens are allowed to speak so that they all know who to ban at once. Utopia awaits!” Another user said.
“Government saying they will control information is the textbook definition of “Orwellian” a user added.
“Gotta love how Psaki so casually says that if you provide “misinformation” (as the White House decides to define it) you shouldn’t just be banned from “one platform, you should be banned from others.”
“Think hard and look in the mirror if you’re actually okay with this.”
“The Biden White House is determined to slip on every banana peel placed before it.”
We went from “mean tweets” to “we’re going to delete your Twitter account if you disagree with us”
“Great job voting for these evil people, America”
Live look at the White House's campaign to fight "misinformation": pic.twitter.com/O641Z8pVtX
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) July 16, 2021
Is this a government directive? https://t.co/TYP3yZKHot
— Jennifer Van Laar (@jenvanlaar) July 16, 2021
Whatever bad they claimed Trump would do, Biden is doing it. I am shocked that more people are not cynical if not totally vary of politicians. https://t.co/EAcFyDdcT3
— Ram (@ramprasad_c) July 16, 2021
This is an excerpt from Fox News.
