GOP Reps Call on Elon Musk to Censor More

In a letter penned to the likely soon-to-be owner of social media giant Twitter, Republican Congresswoman Claudia Tenney of New York along with several other lawmakers called upon the Tesla CEO to uphold U.S. law by preventing certain Iranian figures and organizations from utilizing Twitter to further their aims.

The letter begins by describing Musk's recent acquisition of Twitter as an "opportunity for transformational change" of the platform while recognizing that the Iranian regime currently employs Twitter "to upend free societies and threaten violence." 

"This is a chance for you to restore the platform so it once again protects, values, and champions free speech," the letter reads. "It is also a chance for you to correct a longstanding concern regarding the platform's provision of digital services to sanctioned entities, like those affiliated with the Islamic Republic of Iran, who are responsible for, among other things, the murder of American citizens."

Calling it "unacceptable" that U.S.-designated Iranian entities use Twitter freely "despite U.S. laws and regulations that prohibit the provision of goods and services to them," the lawmakers request a review of Twitter's business practices and policies in order to "ensure full compliance with U.S. laws prohibiting the provision of services to U.S.-designated entities."

The letter highlighted Twitter providing the Islamist theocracy's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei with accounts used "to advance the foreign policy objectives of the Islamic Republic," a designated state sponsor of terrorism. 

"Khamenei, in particular, has used the platform to threaten violence, call for the eradication of the State of Israel and the Jewish people, and promote conspiracy theories and disinformation," the letter states. 

"He has posted tweets glorifying anti-Semitic terrorist groups, specifically Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad... [and] glorified deceased antisemitic leaders from U.S.-designated terrorist groups, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Kata'ib Hezbollah, Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad," the lawmakers charged.

The letter continues by emphasizing the value of freedom of speech and the opposition by its signatories to any "arbitrary or political censorship" on the part of the platform.

"Let us be clear: we stand for free speech and do not support arbitrary or political censorship by social media companies. Free speech and the free flow of information on platforms like Twitter are key to maintaining healthy democracies both at home and abroad and we sincerely hope your acquisition of Twitter heralds a new era in this regard," it reads.

However, the letter continues, such rights are to be distinguished from the "markedly different" issue of aiding designated terrorists, which is "not a question of free speech, but of whether an American company should be providing a service, for which it gives and derives benefit, to designated and terrorist affiliated individual and entities."

"We believe strongly that the answer is a resounding, 'No,' which is why we urge you to examine this issue further and take action to comply with U.S. law," it emphatically states.

Traitors Sean Hannity & Senator John Kennedy agree that “hate speech” shouldn’t be allowed on Twitter. pic.twitter.com/rDcsGAOUI7

— Grant Taylor (@grantltaylor) April 29, 2022