FCC Chairman Opposes Government Oversight on Online Speech
On Tuesday, Brendan Kerr, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), voiced his opposition to the government’s proposal for regulating online speech. Speaking at Politico’s AI & Tech Summit, Kerr made it clear that he sees a significant distinction between speech protected by the First Amendment and specific types that aren’t.
This statement came shortly after Attorney General Pam Bondy announced plans to target “hate speech,” which sparked considerable backlash, particularly from conservative circles. Some even called for her resignation.
“There’s a clear line that can be drawn here, and the Supreme Court has upheld this for years,” Kerr remarked. “The First Amendment provides broad protections for most speech, but it doesn’t cover everything. Certain types, like incitement to violence or fighting words, fall outside its protections.”
Bondi remarked, “There’s freedom of speech, and then there’s hate speech. Especially after what happened to Charlie, there’s no place for it in our society. We will definitely target you.”
Kerr stressed that the exceptions to free speech are actually quite limited and state that our existing laws already address these issues.
In light of the recent release of video footage capturing Kirk’s assassination, Kerr was asked about the role of social media platforms in managing such content. He replied, “I don’t think the video itself is what’s scary; it’s the act that was horrifying. We should empower individuals to curate their social feeds and control their viewing experiences.”
Meanwhile, Bondi attempted to clarify her earlier comments made during a podcast with Katie Miller. She reiterated, “There’s freedom of speech, and then there’s hate speech. After what happened to Charlie, we will definitely target you.” She later specified that she was referring to “hate speech that poses a threat of violence.”
Both Kerr and Bondi agree that only unprotected speech which incites violence can lead to legal consequences. However, there’s been a noticeable uptick in dismissals connected to celebratory comments regarding Kirk’s death. Defense Secretary Pete Hegses mentioned on Thursday that the department is “tracking” congratulatory remarks among personnel about Kirk’s murder, and disciplinary actions have already begun against those who violated guidelines.
