Brendan Carr, chosen by President-elect Trump to lead the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), is determined to tackle what he describes as a “censorship cartel” operating across social media, government, and traditional media platforms, emphasizing that free speech is facing unprecedented threats.
In an interview with NewsNation’s “CUOMO,” Carr detailed a comprehensive strategy to combat what he perceives as increasing limitations on free expression, which he believes were exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Carr prioritizes free speech as he outlines his strategy to combat censorship
Highlighting the importance of diverse opinions, Carr stated, “Diversity of opinion is so important in this country, and it’s going to be one of my top priorities: trying to smash this censorship cartel.” The FCC operates as an independent agency under Congressional oversight; however, Trump has expressed interest in exerting tighter control over it, partly to penalize TV networks that report unfavorably about him.
As an FCC commissioner since 2017, Carr has the potential to initiate significant changes regarding the freedoms of technology and broadcasting companies. Following Trump’s election victory, Carr stated, “The FCC will have an important role to play reining in Big Tech, ensuring that broadcasters operate in the public interest, and unleashing economic growth,” themes he discussed in Project 2025.
During his interview, Carr pointed out three key players in what he claims is a censorship effort: technology platforms, government officials, and advertising agencies. He specifically criticized the existing interpretation of Section 230 of the Communications Act, which offers legal protections to online platforms.
Carr explained to NewsNation, “If you have companies that get together that decide not to compete on a feature of business, including content moderation, that’s possibly a problem under our competition laws.” While he supports protections that shield platforms from liability for user-generated content, he contends that the criteria for content removal have been overly broad, resulting in excessive moderation.
Carr asserted, “Any time you have an increase in government control, you necessarily have a decrease in free speech. It’s fundamentally un-American.” He proposed that the FCC could be instrumental in fostering diverse viewpoints by reevaluating the application of Section 230, expressing particular concern over what he terms “narrative checkers,” which he believes suppress political discourse.
“We should try to protect core political speech, religious speech, scientific speech,” he stated. Carr also addressed broader issues of trust in the media, noting that the credibility of traditional media has plummeted, now ranking lower than Congress in public trust. He emphasized that broadcasters have a legal obligation to act in the public interest, a responsibility he plans to uphold.
“It wasn’t that long ago that mass media was the most trusted institution in America, and for a long time, it at least stayed above Congress in terms of trust, but it’s recently fallen below Congress,” Carr remarked.
He believes it is crucial for the FCC to ensure that broadcasters fulfill their public interest duties. In addition to speech-related matters, Carr indicated that the agency would also prioritize economic initiatives, such as spectrum allocation and supporting the space economy, reflecting policies from the Trump administration.
