As United States President-elect Donald Trump prepares to assume office, concerns are mounting about the potential impact of his administration on internet freedoms. While much attention has been given to Trump’s positions on immigration, democracy, and abortion rights, his choices for key agency leadership positions may significantly alter the landscape of online speech and digital rights.
Trump’s nominees to lead agencies like the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have sparked fears among tech experts. Brendan Carr, currently an FCC commissioner, has been selected to head the agency. Although Trump lauded Carr as a “warrior for free speech,” critics argue that his history of targeting online platforms suggests otherwise. Carr has called for overhauling Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, a provision that shields online platforms from liability for user content and enables content moderation. He has also accused fact-checking initiatives of being a “censorship cartel.”
Similarly, Andrew Ferguson, Trump’s choice to lead the FTC, has expressed concerns about conservative voices being suppressed online. He intends to use antitrust laws to challenge major tech companies and has signaled plans to replace critical civil servants with Trump loyalists. Ferguson has also indicated that his tenure would target content related to LGBTQ issues, gender-affirming care, and abortion.
Other appointments, such as Harmeet Dhillon for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, further fuel apprehension. Dhillon has a history of challenging tech companies over alleged biases and could pursue lawsuits to force platforms to accommodate more controversial content.
Advisors like Elon Musk and David Sacks, known for their views on conservative censorship, could also influence policy directions. Critics fear these appointments may result in a government that curtails free speech, surveils dissenters, and targets journalists critical of the administration.
While Senate confirmation remains uncertain for some nominees, their shared ideologies could reshape internet freedoms, potentially limiting free expression and enhancing government control over online spaces.
