The White House has drafted an executive order aimed at addressing alleged bias on online platforms, Bloomberg reports. The executive order for President Donald Trump does not name any companies but would open the way for federal agencies to investigate companies such as Google, Facebook and other social media companies, according to the draft document seen by the news agency. Trump previously has said these type of companies are “totally discriminating” against conservative voices and news sources online.
White House officials say the order is in its early stages and has not been run by other government agencies. Deputy White House press secretary Lindsey Walters told Bloomberg that the document is not the result of an official White House policy making process.
The draft order directs that any actions federal agencies take should be “consistent with other laws,” such as the independence of US law enforcement or the First Amendment, which protects political views from government regulation. “Because of their critical role in American society, it is essential that American citizens are protected from anticompetitive acts by dominant online platforms,” the order continues. It adds that consumer harm could come “through the exercise of bias.”
Attorney General Jeff Sessions is preparing for a 25 September briefing by state attorneys general who are already investigating the tech firms’ practices. The meeting will help Sessions decide if there is a federal case to be made against (social media) companies, sources familiar with the matter said. At least one of the attorneys general participating in the meeting has indicated he seeks to break up the companies.
