The inquiry launched on February 20, 2025, focuses on potentially illegal practices by tech platforms, including:

• Shadow banning: limiting content visibility without user knowledge

• Demonetization: restricting creators' ability to earn revenue

• User bans: completely removing access to platforms

These actions are being scrutinized for possible violations of consumer protection and antitrust laws123. The investigation aims to examine how technology companies deny or degrade users' access to services based on speech content or affiliations, with particular concern over unpredictable internal procedures that cut off users without recourse and unclear content moderation policies that may constitute deceptive business practices45. This probe represents a significant shift in the FTC's approach to content moderation under the new leadership of Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson67.

Public involvement plays a pivotal role in this investigation, with the FTC inviting individuals to submit comments until May 21, 2025. Users who have experienced bans, shadow bans, or demonetization can share their stories through the public comment process. These submissions will be reviewed and made available on Regulations.gov for transparency and further analysis123.

To ensure accessibility, the FTC has emphasized gathering input from a wide range of voices, particularly those who feel they have been unfairly targeted by tech platforms' moderation policies. This approach aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the potential impacts of these practices on consumers and free expression43.

FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson characterized tech platform censorship as "potentially illegal" and "un-American," asserting that tech firms should not bully their users12. Ferguson's strong stance reflects a significant shift in the FTC's approach to content moderation under the new leadership3. The inquiry aims to address concerns about:

• Unpredictable internal procedures that cut off users without recourse

• Unclear content moderation policies that may constitute deceptive business practices

• Potential anticompetitive behavior related to content restrictions

These statements underscore the FTC's commitment to investigating how major technology platforms' content policies and user bans may violate consumer protection and antitrust laws45.

The FTC's inquiry into tech platform censorship has sparked a significant response from the technology industry, with major companies and industry groups voicing concerns about potential overreach and the impact on their operations. Key points of industry pushback include:

• Claims of First Amendment protection for content moderation decisions

• Concerns about the inquiry's potential chilling effect on efforts to combat misinformation and harmful content

• Arguments that existing content policies are necessary for user safety and platform integrity

• Warnings that increased government scrutiny could stifle innovation in AI and content filtering technologies

Tech companies argue that their content moderation practices are essential for maintaining safe and functional online environments, while also emphasizing the complexity of managing global platforms with diverse user bases12. Some industry representatives have suggested that the inquiry may be politically motivated, pointing to the Trump administration's focus on alleged anti-conservative bias in social media34.