United States of America: Federal Trade Commission opened consultation on censorship practices by technology platforms

On 20 February 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) opened a public consultation on censorship practices by technology firms, until 21 May 2025. The consultation seeks to understand how platforms may have violated the law by restricting user's access based on their speech or affiliations. The inquiry applies to technology platforms, including social media companies, and focuses on how their actions, including bans, shadow bans, or demonetisation, may have harmed consumers and competition. The consultation seeks information from stakeholders on whether these practices resulted from anti-competitive behaviour or deceptive methods.