Concerns Over Censorship Related to COVID-19

There’s been a significant delay in acknowledging the questioning of lockdown measures and the origins of COVID-19 in the U.S. by industrial facilities. In a recent episode of BlazetV’s “The Coverup,” hosts Matt Kibbe and investigative journalist Matt Taibbi discussed how multiple entities, including the federal government and tech platforms, collaborated to suppress dissenting opinions.

Taibbi pointed to the controversial “Twitter Files” and Europe’s introduction of the Digital Services Act. While he described it as a form of encouragement for regulations, he pointed out that the U.S. is lagging behind in protecting free speech.

He elaborated on how the federal government utilized various “Orwellian mechanisms” to interact with platforms like Twitter about content moderation.

Kibbe highlighted that the involvement of the FBI and other agencies in censoring user speech indicated that decisions weren’t solely made by tech CEOs. “This was, in fact, a serious infringement on the First Amendment,” Kibbe stated.

According to Taibbi, the federal government has issued a gag order affecting social media companies, hindering communication with the public.

Kibbe and Taibbi also talked about the Twitter Files revealing shadow banning practices against users. Notably, Jay Bhattacharya, a leading NIH director during the Trump era, was affected.

The Twitter Files tracked the pressure on social media to censor not just misinformation but also accurate information that didn’t align with the government’s narrative.

Taibbi pointed out that even NGOs were involved in requesting Facebook to suppress posts that suggested connections to labs in Wuhan, China, which could undermine established health authorities like Anthony Fauci.

Regarding the government’s broader intentions, Taibbi fears the censorship efforts from the COVID era aim to reshape American attitudes toward compliance. “I think they’re trying to rewire how people think. They want us to forget our questions and simply accept,” he expressed.

When asked about the future role of independent media amid such censorship attempts, Taibbi expressed concerns about the effectiveness of high-tech solutions in overcoming numerous challenges.

“I panicked a bit because, honestly, the global review system looks alarmingly near in 2024. Independent media can be powerful, but if it’s tainted, its reach could be minimal,” he remarked.