There was some heavy censorship inception occurring on the broadcast networks Wednesday evening, as they censored the Senate hearing called to address Big Tech censorship of conservatives and stories damaging to Democratic nominee Joe Biden on their platforms. Instead, ABC’s World News Tonight, the CBS Evening News, and NBC Nightly News all boasted about Biden bashing President Trump on the campaign trail.
“The heads of the three big tech firms faced off against a Senate panel today over censorship accusations. Those claims come in the wake of social media's response to the New York Post’s reporting on Hunter Biden alleged business dealings with foreign adversaries,” announced Special Report anchor Bret Baier that evening on the Fox News Channel.
He added: “The New York Post Twitter account was still locked today.”
At the top of her report, correspondent Gillian Turner highlighted how Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation member Ted Cruz (R-TX) utterly thrashed Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey for using his company to back Democrats:
CRUZ: Who the hell elected you and put you in charge of what the media are allowed to report and what the American people are allowed to hear, and why do you persist in behaving as a Democratic super PAC silencing views?
DORSEY: We’re not doing that. And this is why I opened this hearing with calls for more transparency.
“Democratic and Republican senators agree; social media is now playing God with American democracy,” Turner reported. “Choosing whose posts to stay up, whose come down, and whose gets blocked during a presidential election. The CEOs of Facebook, Google, and Twitter faced bipartisan heat.”
Going where the liberal broadcast networks wouldn’t Fox News addressed the central question of the hearing: “Does Section 230’s Sweeping Immunity Enable Big Tech Bad Behavior?”
“At issue is whether Congress should revise a federal law known as Section 230. It gives internet companies general liability from material posted on their networks, a so-called ‘safe harbor,’” Turner reported.
And as she wrapped her segment, Turner noted: “Now the Justice Department also weighing in, arguing in favor of revisions to Section 230. They cite the recent controversy surrounding the New York Post’s reporting about Hunter Biden as well as the recent Supreme Court opinion from Justice Clarence Thomas.”
Speaking during the panel discussion later in the program about how Facebook intentionally “constrained” the Biden story until their “fact-checkers” could review it, Baier reiterated: “The New York Post Twitter page is still in lockdown and no indication these fact-checkers are on the move with just days to go before the election.”
The network censorship of the censorship hearing was made possible because of the lucrative sponsorships from Liberty Mutual on ABC, Procter & Gamble on CBS, and Facebook on NBC. Their contact information is linked so you can tell them about the biased news they’re funding.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
Fox News Channel’s Special Report
October 28, 2020
6:22:41 p.m. EasterBRET BAIER: The heads of the three big tech firms faced off against a Senate panel today over censorship accusations. Those claims come in the wake of social media's response to the New York Post’s reporting on Hunter Biden alleged business dealings with foreign adversaries. The New York Post Twitter account was still locked today. Correspondent Gillian Turner has that story tonight.
[Cuts to video]
GILLIAN TURNER: Democratic and Republican senators agree; social media is now playing God with American democracy. Choosing whose posts to stay up, whose come down, and whose gets blocked during a presidential election. The CEOs of Facebook, Google, and Twitter faced bipartisan heat.
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX): Who the hell elected you and put you in charge of what the media are allowed to report and what the American people are allowed to hear, and why do you persist in behaving as a Democratic super PAC silencing views?
JACK DORSEY (Twitter CEO): We’re not doing that. And this is why I opened this hearing with calls for more transparency.
TURNER: The heart of the matter for Committee Republicans, what they say is censorship of conservatives including President Trump.
SEN. JOHN THUNE (R-SD): There’s real mistrust among the American people about whether you’re being fair or transparent.
TURNER: Democrats, though, see the bias tilting the other way.
SEN. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (D-CT): I am appalled that my Republican colleagues [Transition] seem to want to bully and browbeat the platforms here to try to tilt them toward President Trump.
TURNER: Mark Zuckerberg argued Facebook has improved access to the polls the polls.
MARK ZUCKERBERG (Facebook CEO): We estimate we have helped more than 4.4 million people registered to vote. And 100,000 people volunteered to be poll workers.
TURNER: At issue is whether Congress should revise a federal law known as Section 230. It gives internet companies general liability from material posted on their networks, a so-called “safe harbor.”
SUNDAR PICHAI (Google CEO): I would urge the committee to be very thoughtful about any changes to Section 230 and to be very aware of the consequences those changes might have on businesses and customers.
[Cuts back to live]
TURNER: Now the Justice Department also weighing in, arguing in favor of revisions to Section 230. They cite the recent controversy surrounding the New York Post’s reporting about Hunter Biden as well as the recent Supreme Court opinion from Justice Clarence Thomas. Bret.
BAIER: Gillian, thank you.
