Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., unveiled legislation Thursday that would force federal watchdogs to keep Congress informed of any attempts by government agencies to censor Americans on social media platforms.
Schmitt's bill, the Transparency in Bureaucratic Communications Act, would require the 74 federal inspectors general to give Congress "detailed description" of communications between the agencies and departments they audit and social media companies.
The legislation is in response to the Biden administration's pressure campaign on big tech to silence opposition to COVID-19 vaccines, for example, through content moderation.
"Let me make it clear, the incoming Republican Congress cannot allow deep-state bureaucrats to continue censoring the free speech of our constituents any longer," Schmitt wrote in a statement. "We must continue to expose the full extent of the Biden administration's censorship schemes against the American people.
"That is why I am proud to introduce the Transparency in Bureaucratic Communications Act, which mandates that Inspectors General provide Congress a detailed description of the contents and particular circumstances of any communication, or attempted communication, with any company receiving Section 230 protections.
"We will find the bureaucratic rot and we will rip it out."
Mark Swanson ✉
Mark Swanson, a Newsmax writer and editor, has nearly three decades of experience covering news, culture and politics.
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