WATCH: White House expresses 'concern' over social media power after Elon Musk buys Twitter

"The President has long been concerned about the power of large social media platforms, the power they have over our every day lives," Jen Psaki said.

ADVERTISEMENT
Image
Libby Emmons Brooklyn NY
ADVERTISEMENT

The White House responded on Monday to Twitter's acceptance of Elon Musk's bid to purchase the platform for $44 billion, and the potential likelihood that former President Donald Trump will be reinstated to the social media giant.

Press Secretary Jen Psaki was asked about the purchase, and if "the White House has any concern that the agreement might have President Trump back on the platform?"

In response, Psaki said "Well I'm not going to comment on a specific transaction."

"What I can tell you, as a general matter, no matter who owns or runs Twitter, the President has long been concerned about the power of large social media platforms, the power they have over our every day lives, has long argued that tech platforms must be held accountable for the harms they cause.

"He's been a strong supporter of fundamental reforms to achieve that goal, including reforms to Section 230, enacting anti-trust reforms, requiring more transparency, and more— and he's encouraged that there's bipartisan interest in Congress.

"In terms of what hypothetical policies might happen, I'm just not going to speak to that at this point in time."

She was later asked if there were concerns about "a billionaire taking control" of Twitter, "a company where there's already a lot of concentration of power?"

"I would say that our concerns are not new," Psaki said. "We've long talked about and the president has long talked about his concerns about the power of social media platforms, including Twitter and others, to spread misinformation, disinformation.

"The need for these platforms to be held accountable... I still don't have a specific comment on this specific transaction, and at this point we don't have any sense of what the policies will look like," Psaki said.

This comes after tech billionaire Elon Musk bought Twitter on Monday for $44 billion, with plans to take the public company private. The concerns that spurred him to buy Twitter were primarily as regards free speech, after satire site The Babylon Bee was banned from Twitter for saying that Rachel Levine, assistant secretary of health and human services, is a man.

Levine was born male, and lived a male life, fathering children, etc., before undergoing gender transition and becoming a diversity hire within the Biden administration.

Musk is a free speech absolutist.

"Regardless of ownership, would the White House be interested in working with Twitter, like it has in the past, to continue to combat [Covid] misinformation or are we in a part of the pandemic where that kind of partnership is no longer necessary?" Psaki was asked.

In response, she said "I think we engage regularly with all social media platforms about steps that can be taken, that has continued and I'm sure it will continue. But there are also reforms that we think Congress could take, and we would support taking. Including reforming Section 230, enacting anti-trust reforms, requiring more transparency, and the President is encouraged by the bipartisan support for, or engagement, in those efforts."

The Biden administration, it seems, does not have a free speech absolutist view.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Join and support independent free thinkers!

We’re independent and can’t be cancelled. The establishment media is increasingly dedicated to divisive cancel culture, corporate wokeism, and political correctness, all while covering up corruption from the corridors of power. The need for fact-based journalism and thoughtful analysis has never been greater. When you support The Post Millennial, you support freedom of the press at a time when it's under direct attack. Join the ranks of independent, free thinkers by supporting us today for as little as $1.

Support The Post Millennial

Remind me next month

To find out what personal data we collect and how we use it, please visit our Privacy Policy

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
ADVERTISEMENT
© 2024 The Post Millennial, Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell My Personal Information