JD Vance Raises Alarming Concerns Over Big Tech’s Role in Threatening Democracy

JD Vance

JD Vance argued that Big Tech censorship is a greater threat to democracy than the January 6th insurrection during the recent vice presidential debate.

At a Glance

  • JD Vance claims Big Tech censorship is a greater threat to democracy than January 6 events.
  • Vance accuses Kamala Harris of promoting speech suppression through Big Tech.
  • The debate highlighted differences in opinions on censorship, election integrity, and the role of Big Tech.
  • A federal judge ruled that the Biden administration’s coordination with tech companies was unconstitutional.
  • Vance emphasized the importance of open dialogue and the right to participate in national debates.

Big Tech Censorship vs January 6 Insurrection

In the recent vice presidential debate, Republican candidate Sen. JD Vance asserted that censorship by Big Tech companies presents a larger threat to American democracy than the January 6 Capitol insurrection. During the debate with Democratic candidate Gov. Tim Walz, Vance claimed that the control Big Tech exerts over public discourse is more dangerous than the 2021 event at the Capitol. He highlighted incidents and perspectives that support his argument, particularly focusing on the alleged collusion between Big Tech and the government to suppress dissenting voices.

Vance accused Kamala Harris of engaging in large-scale censorship, comparing it to Donald Trump’s actions in the January 6th event. He emphasized the importance of open dialogue and the necessity for Americans to persuade others with different viewpoints. The debate, hosted by CBS News in New York and moderated by Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan, saw Vance frequently shifting the focus to the dangers posed by Big Tech’s influence.

Accusations and Counterpoints

Vance referenced the Supreme Court case Murthy v. Missouri, which dealt with accusations that the Biden administration coerced tech platforms to censor content. He also pointed to a recent federal judge’s ruling that the administration’s coordination with tech companies is unconstitutional.

On this matter, Vance remarked, “First of all, let’s appreciate the human cost of Big Tech’s censorship. We now know that millions of American schoolchildren were locked out of their schools… because Big Tech was colluding with the federal government…”

“January 6th was not Facebook ads,” Tim Walz countered, labeling Vance’s perspective as “revisionist history.” During another heated moment, when Vance avoided directly answering whether he believed Trump lost the 2020 election, Walz commented, “That is a damning non-answer.” This came after Norah O’Donnell questioned Vance about his potential challenge to 2024 election results even if all governors certified them.

The Role of Big Tech and Government

According to Vance, Big Tech’s censorship efforts, paired with government intervention, prevent necessary national debates from occurring. He noted how American schoolchildren’s socialization and mental health were negatively impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic due to school closures and a lack of open discussion on the matter, attributing these effects to Big Tech’s influence. Vance questioned what poses a greater threat to democracy: unpopular presidents or tech companies censoring Americans with the assistance of the FBI.

Vance had strong words for Harris’s policies, criticizing the Biden administration and the collaborative censorship efforts by Big Tech and the government. He stressed, “What’s a bigger threat to our democracy? … Technology companies with financial interests in communist China working with our own FBI to censor the American people?”

The debate underscored the stark differences between the GOP and Democratic candidates on issues of censorship, democratic integrity, and the need for open public discourse. Vance proposed that the real danger lies in the restriction of speech and the ability of Americans to partake in essential societal conversations, particularly on social media platforms.