This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/usa/525838-ted-cruz-covid19-facebook/
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Ted Cruz accuses Facebook of censoring Covid-19 content ‘on behalf of govt,’ suggests users could SUE platform over deleted posts | Ted Cruz accuses Facebook of censoring Covid-19 content ‘on behalf of govt,’ suggests users could SUE platform over deleted posts |
| (3 months later) | |
| Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has accused Facebook of acting as a “state agency” during the Covid-19 pandemic for the government and health officials like Dr. Anthony Fauci, saying this behavior should carry legal consequences. | Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has accused Facebook of acting as a “state agency” during the Covid-19 pandemic for the government and health officials like Dr. Anthony Fauci, saying this behavior should carry legal consequences. |
| Cruz used Facebook’s recent reversal on a rule to flag posts suggesting Covid-19 was man-made as proof that the company is on “behalf of the government” in a Sunday interview with Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo. | Cruz used Facebook’s recent reversal on a rule to flag posts suggesting Covid-19 was man-made as proof that the company is on “behalf of the government” in a Sunday interview with Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo. |
| “These latest breakthroughs have real consequences because it now is clear that Facebook was operating at the direction of and in the direct benefit of the federal government and operating as the government's censor, utilizing their monopoly position to censor on behalf of the government,” the senator said. | “These latest breakthroughs have real consequences because it now is clear that Facebook was operating at the direction of and in the direct benefit of the federal government and operating as the government's censor, utilizing their monopoly position to censor on behalf of the government,” the senator said. |
| The fact that Facebook appears to be taking its policing cues from the government and officials like Fauci, Cruz said, means they may not be able to hide behind their usual “private company” defense as they are acting as a “state agency.” | The fact that Facebook appears to be taking its policing cues from the government and officials like Fauci, Cruz said, means they may not be able to hide behind their usual “private company” defense as they are acting as a “state agency.” |
| “When they say, ‘Should we censor this? And Fauci says, ‘Yes.’ And they censor it for the federal government. And then magically when the government changes its mind and says, ‘Oh, all those facts that were there a year ago, now you’re allowed to talk about it.’ They stop censoring it with the flip of a switch,” Cruz said, adding that the platform should be open to “very serious legal liability.” | “When they say, ‘Should we censor this? And Fauci says, ‘Yes.’ And they censor it for the federal government. And then magically when the government changes its mind and says, ‘Oh, all those facts that were there a year ago, now you’re allowed to talk about it.’ They stop censoring it with the flip of a switch,” Cruz said, adding that the platform should be open to “very serious legal liability.” |
| Facebook announced in February that it was policing posts that suggested Covid-19 had man-made origins, a previously ‘debunked’ conspiracy theory that is now a debated topic as investigations into the virus’ origins continue. The company announced this month they were reversing the policy after “consultation with public health experts.” | Facebook announced in February that it was policing posts that suggested Covid-19 had man-made origins, a previously ‘debunked’ conspiracy theory that is now a debated topic as investigations into the virus’ origins continue. The company announced this month they were reversing the policy after “consultation with public health experts.” |
| Cruz alleges it was only government officials taking a lighter stance on theories that the virus was created in a Wuhan lab accident that prompted the social media giant to change their policy. | Cruz alleges it was only government officials taking a lighter stance on theories that the virus was created in a Wuhan lab accident that prompted the social media giant to change their policy. |
| The Texas senator claims Facebook’s obvious reversal could and possibly should open them up to legal action from previously-censored users. | The Texas senator claims Facebook’s obvious reversal could and possibly should open them up to legal action from previously-censored users. |
| “If you went out and posted the facts that led a year ago to the very strong likelihood that the COVID virus escaped from a Chinese government lab in Wuhan, China, if you posted that a year ago and they took it down, I think there's a very good argument you have a cause of action against Facebook,” he said. | “If you went out and posted the facts that led a year ago to the very strong likelihood that the COVID virus escaped from a Chinese government lab in Wuhan, China, if you posted that a year ago and they took it down, I think there's a very good argument you have a cause of action against Facebook,” he said. |
| Cruz also turned his attention towards Fauci and the recent email dump as a result of multiple Freedom of Information Act requests, accusing the medical official of “misleading” the American people, along with Facebook. | Cruz also turned his attention towards Fauci and the recent email dump as a result of multiple Freedom of Information Act requests, accusing the medical official of “misleading” the American people, along with Facebook. |
| “I got to say this email dump that came out makes clear that this is not just being sloppy, it is systematic, and it is systemically an effort to mislead the American people,” he said, referring to emails where Fauci is seemingly more open to Covid being man-made than than what he said in his public statements. | “I got to say this email dump that came out makes clear that this is not just being sloppy, it is systematic, and it is systemically an effort to mislead the American people,” he said, referring to emails where Fauci is seemingly more open to Covid being man-made than than what he said in his public statements. |
| Numerous Republican lawmakers have called on Fauci to resign from his position, citing the recent email dump and multiple seeming flip-flops on key issues. | Numerous Republican lawmakers have called on Fauci to resign from his position, citing the recent email dump and multiple seeming flip-flops on key issues. |
| President Joe Biden said this week that he’s "very confident" in Fauci despite recent controversies, and White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed Biden had no plans to push Fauci out of his position. | President Joe Biden said this week that he’s "very confident" in Fauci despite recent controversies, and White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed Biden had no plans to push Fauci out of his position. |
| Like this story? Share it with a friend! | Like this story? Share it with a friend! |
| Dear readers and commenters, | |
| We have implemented a new engine for our comment section. We hope the transition goes smoothly for all of you. Unfortunately, the comments made before the change have been lost due to a technical problem. We are working on restoring them, and hoping to see you fill up the comment section with new ones. You should still be able to log in to comment using your social-media profiles, but if you signed up under an RT profile before, you are invited to create a new profile with the new commenting system. | |
| Sorry for the inconvenience, and looking forward to your future comments, | |
| RT Team. |