President-Elect Donald Trump announced his plan to combat digital censorship and restore free speech in America by implementing a “digital bill of rights.” Trump emphasized the need for new policies to protect citizens from what he sees as pervasive restrictions on lawful speech, pledging swift action upon taking office.
“Within hours of my inauguration, I will sign an executive order prohibiting any federal department or agency from collaborating with any organization, business, or individual to censor, limit, categorize, or impede the lawful speech of American citizens,” Trump declared.
In line with this, he promised to cut federal funding for any initiatives that label domestic speech as “mis-” or “disinformation,” describing such practices as obstacles to free expression. “I will begin the process of identifying and firing every federal bureaucrat who has engaged in domestic censorship — directly or indirectly,” he added, pointing to agencies like the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Health and Human Services, FBI, and DOJ.
Trump announced his intent to order the Department of Justice to investigate the parties involved in what he called the “online censorship regime.” He asserted that potential crimes in this domain might violate civil rights laws, campaign finance laws, federal election laws, securities law, and anti-trust regulations. He also referenced the Hatch Act, citing a range of potential violations, both criminal and civil, that he intends to scrutinize.
To strengthen his stance, Trump urged House Republicans to preserve evidence of alleged censorship practices. “I am urging House Republicans to immediately send preservation letters to the Biden administration, the Biden campaign, and every Silicon Valley tech giant,” he said, underscoring his commitment to holding those responsible accountable.
Further detailing his approach, Trump proposed that digital platforms should only qualify for immunity under Section 230 if they uphold strict standards of neutrality, transparency, and fairness. He suggested a balanced approach to platform regulation, requiring companies to address unlawful content such as child exploitation or terrorist activities, while limiting their power to restrict lawful speech arbitrarily.
Trump called for new laws that would establish criminal penalties for federal employees collaborating with private companies to infringe on Americans’ constitutional rights, specifically highlighting protections for First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendment rights. He cautioned that when rights and borders are compromised, “you no longer have a country.”
Addressing concerns about former government officials entering private tech roles, Trump advocated for a 7-year “cooling-off period” before former employees of agencies like the FBI, CIA, NSA, and DHS could join companies with vast amounts of U.S. user data. This measure, he argued, would protect privacy and prevent conflicts of interest.
Trump emphasized the need for legislative action, calling on Congress to pass a digital Bill of Rights. “This should include a right to digital due process — in other words, government officials should need a court order to take down online content,” he said, criticizing the current practice of informal content requests.
In his statement, Trump painted his vision of a digital future that prioritizes free speech, privacy, and legal safeguards against government overreach. As his inauguration approaches, his promise to act swiftly has garnered significant attention as Americans await further details on these proposals.
