False Accusation: The Unfounded Claim That Social Media Companies Censor Conservatives
![False Accusation](https://bhr.stern.nyu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/False-Accusation.jpg)
January 2021
Do Facebook and Twitter suppress the political right?
The claim that social media companies censor conservatives has shaped debate about issues ranging from the fallout from the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot to reform of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects platforms against liability for user posts and content moderation decisions. But the censorship claim is false, as our report demonstrates by analyzing available data and individual examples.
The aftermath of mob violence in Washington, D.C.
Conservatives have attacked Twitter’s decision, in the wake of the Capitol insurrection, to ban Donald Trump permanently. But Twitter did not act based on ideology. The former president repeatedly violated the platform’s rules and contributed to a real danger of further violence. By closely analyzing such episodes, the report clarifies the industry’s actual conduct and clears the way for needed reform.
Related
See all‘We Want You To Be A Proud Boy’ How Social Media Facilitates Political Intimidation and Violence
As a volatile election nears, our new report reveals that social media is consistently exploited to facilitate political intimidation and violence, and recommends crucial changes that social media companies and governments can implement to reduce these harms.
Digital Risks to the 2024 Elections: Safeguarding Democracy in the Era of Disinformation
A new report by Paul M. Barrett, Justin Hendrix and Cecely Richard-Carvajal highlights that this year's primary tech-related threat to elections isn't AI-generated content, but the spread of false, hateful, and violent content on social media platforms.
NetChoice Amicus Brief
In this brief, the Center urged the Supreme Court not to grant the social media industry full immunity from regulation, while also arguing that content moderation laws in Florida and Texas violate the First Amendment.