The Epoch Times’ Kevin Stocklin discusses his latest reports, where the government is accused of circumventing Americans’ First Amendment rights, using private companies to silence protected speech.
Using terms like “hate speech” and “misinformation,” the Biden administration, and some state governments, are working to redefine what Americans are allowed to say. Allegations revealed in investigations by state AGs and GOP members of Congress reveal a pattern of federal agencies, including the CDC, the FBI, and the DHS, pressuring social media companies to censor Americans.
In the report, written by investigative reporter Kevin Stocklin, legal experts say that a growing government-corporate partnership (in line with the ESG industry) is working to take away Americans’ free speech rights. And while federal courts have generally rule in favor of free speech, this may not be enough to preserve the First Amendment in practice.
“More Americans are being censored, more speech is being censored and suppressed by government actions, than has ever been the case in the past,” Andrew Grossman, constitutional attorney at Baker Hostetler, state.
“But this isn’t primarily the old kind of censorship. We’re not talking about book bans; we’re not talking about other types of traditional restraints on speech or publications. What we’re talking about is a phenomenon that I call ‘government censorship by proxy.’”
“The federal government, disinformation ‘experts’ at universities, Big Tech, and others worked together through the Election Integrity Partnership to monitor and censor Americans’ speech,” Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) stated.
Beyond censorship, there are also efforts to put organizations out of business if government officials don’t like their views. Per this separate report from Stocklin, former New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) head Maria Vullo is facing a lawsuit that alleges that she and the DFS leaned on insurance companies to stop doing business with gun-rights advocates like the National Rifle Association (NRA).
“It’s really frightening to think about a society where if the government doesn’t like your speech they can cancel your ability to do business,” Daniel Ortner, an attorney at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), told The Epoch Times.
Stocklin joins us now to discuss his articles further.
Q&A:
- What is “censorship by proxy” and how does it work?
- Why is the government working with private companies to censor Americans, according to legal scholars?
- Why aren’t court decisions in favor of free speech enough to stop “censorship by proxy”?
- How is government allegedly working to get Americans to police each others’ speech?
- Isn’t the government just trying to protect people from “misinformation” and “hate speech,” and aren’t giving up free speech rights a small price to pay?
- Where do you see this fight going in 2024? Could we see even more court cases against these types of agencies? Will it really matter in the long run?
- You recently produced a new documentary called The Shadow State, which discusses the impact of the ESG industry. Tell us more about it and what it’s done for business over the past few years.
- Where can people view The Shadow State? We understand there’s also a DVD available?
- The Shadow State is available right now on Epoch TV. Those interested in purchasing the DVD can do so here.
- Where can we find your recent article about this subject on The Epoch Times, as well as other works you’ve written?
- You can find my profile page here, with all my recently written articles, including a piece on the insurers’ ESG agenda.
About Kevin Stocklin:
Kevin Stocklin is a writer, film producer, and former investment banker. He wrote and produced We All Fall Down: The American Mortgage Crisis, a 2008 documentary on the collapse of the U.S. mortgage finance system.
CONTACT: Jerry McGlothlin at: geraldmcg@outlook.com or 919-437-0001.
