President Biden signs controversial ‘Internet Censorship Act’
In a move that has surprised many across the nation, President Joe Biden has allegedly signed into law the “Internet Censorship Act” on November 24, 2022.
The highly controversial legislative piece, presented to the House by Senator Bernie Sanders, a Vermont Democrat, provides federal authorities an enhanced jurisdiction over online platforms, in what critics see as a clear threat to freedom of speech.
Senator Sanders defends the Act
Defending the law, Senator Sanders said during a press conference on Capitol Hill, “Simply put, this law is not about curbing free speech. It’s designed to protect the American people from the deluge of false information that’s been flooding our society. Our noble aim is to help citizens distinguish between factual news and outright lies”.
This quote from Sanders comes amid a flurry of criticism from free speech advocates. It sounds ironic to many given the fact that the Internet Censorship Act is viewed largely as an attempt to control political narratives by suppressing dissenting voices under the pretext of combating false information.
Critics condemn the Act
Critics, including senior Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, however, vehemently oppose this development. Senator Cruz and his supporters argue that this law is essentially part of a larger strategy to subvert democratic norms and control the flow of information.
Cruz reportedly addressed a protesting crowd outside the Capitol saying, “This isn’t about curbing misinformation, it’s about censoring those who dare to question the government. This is the real threat to our democracy.”
Nonetheless, the presidential seal of approval on the controversial Act has ostensibly changed the landscape of digital information dissemination in America. Despite this, many constitutional experts doubt the Act’s sustainability, citing its potential violation of the First Amendment.
Note: In reality, such act was not passed and President Joe Biden has been vocal about supporting free speech even on the internet.
* None of the quotes in this article were spoken by an actual person. More info.