How The Govt Uses Big Tech to Silence Critics

<p>The Trump admin publicly bragged about demanding that Apple and Facebook remove ICE watch apps and Facebook groups documenting ICE activity, and Big Tech is complying.</p><p>Support my independent journalism:</p><p>🙏 Patreon:<a href="https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz" rel="noopener noreferer" target="_blank"> https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz </a>  </p><p>🗞️ Substack: <a href="https://www.usermag.co" rel="noopener noreferer" target="_blank">https://www.usermag.co  </a> </p><p>[FREE SPEECH FRIDAY]</p><p>Since last year, Meta, Apple, and other big tech platforms have been mass removing content related to ICE. From deleting Facebook groups who criticize ICE agents to removing apps from the app store that allow citizens to report ICE in their neighborhood, it's becoming harder to criticize ICE online. </p><p>The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), is suing the government in order to get these Facebook groups and apps restored. Colin McDonnell, an attorney at FIRE joins me to break down these seminal lawsuits, how they're taking on the government, and why it's so crucial to protect free expression online. </p><p>We discuss how DOJ and DHS officials, including Pam Bondi and Kristi Noem, successfully pressured Apple and Facebook to remove an ICE-tracking app and a Chicago-based Facebook group with nearly 100,000 members. Colin breaks down why FIRE is suing the government , whether recording law enforcement in public is protected speech or dangerous &quot;doxing&quot; , and the chilling rumors of a secret ICE protester database</p><p>Follow me:</p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz" rel="noopener noreferer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz     </a></p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0" rel="noopener noreferer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz3.0    </a></p><p><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz" rel="noopener noreferer" target="_blank">https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz</a></p><p><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.social" rel="noopener noreferer" target="_blank">https://bsky.app/profile/taylorlorenz.bsky.social </a></p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/taylorlorenz" rel="noopener noreferer" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/taylorlorenz</a></p><p><br /></p>