Brendan Carr, chosen by President-elect Donald Trump to lead the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has pledged to confront what he calls the “censorship cartel” of Big Tech.
Speaking on Fox News‘ “Sunday Morning Futures,” Carr said his top priority will be restoring free speech by addressing the actions of tech companies that restrict open dialogue.
Carr, 45, currently a Republican FCC commissioner, accused companies like Facebook of collaborating with advertisers and government officials to suppress free expression. He argued that such practices undermine foundational American principles of innovation and free discourse.
Speaking with host Maria Bartiromo, he stated, “Censorship isn’t just about stopping words. It’s about stopping ideas. America is a country of founders, of people that have pushed boundaries and frontiers.”
The FCC, an independent agency tasked with regulating interstate and international communications, is set to undergo significant changes under Carr’s leadership. With a chairperson and four commissioners split evenly along partisan lines, Carr expressed optimism about the agency’s direction in Trump’s incoming administration.
He described the current moment as a turning point, suggesting that the country is on the verge of a “great American comeback” fueled by reduced governmental controls and renewed economic growth.
Carr’s remarks reflect broader conservative critiques of Big Tech, which have escalated in recent years. Companies such as Facebook and Twitter have faced allegations of liberal bias, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and controversies like the suppression of the Hunter Biden laptop story.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently admitted that Facebook had censored content under pressure from the Biden administration, decisions that have since sparked widespread criticism. Zuckerberg, reportedly seeking to rebuild bridges with conservatives, recently dined with Trump at Mar-a-Lago.
Carr expressed hope that this shift signals a broader embrace of free speech but stressed the need for accountability and reform.
He also praised Democratic Representative Ro Khanna for encouraging liberals to remain on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) after Elon Musk’s controversial acquisition of the company in 2022. Carr highlighted the importance of diverse opinions, describing free speech as the “bedrock of democracy” and warning against declining trust in mass media.
The incoming FCC chair also highlighted Trump’s leadership as pivotal to this transition. He commended the president-elect’s transition team for their staffing decisions and their commitment to promoting free speech.
“The team is just knocking it out of the park with these picks,” Carr said. He framed the next phase of FCC governance as a chance to reassert foundational American values in the digital space while countering the perceived overreach of Big Tech.
Carr’s appointment underscores the Trump administration’s focus on reshaping regulatory policies to curb the influence of technology giants.
Under Carr’s leadership, the FCC is poised to foster transparent communication across online platforms while recalibrating the dynamic between technology firms and the public sphere.