Jim Jordan exposes emails, accuses White House of pressuring Amazon to censor books, deeming independent thinking unacceptable
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan Exposes Amazon’s Censorship
In a captivating thread titled “The Amazon Files,” Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH), the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, revealed emails that he claims demonstrate Amazon’s compliance with pressure from the Biden administration to censor books.
The emails, both from the Biden administration to Amazon and internal messages within the company, indicate that Amazon implemented a “Do Not Promote” feature for books expressing hesitancy about COVID vaccines on the same day it met with the White House in March 2021, according to Jordan.
These emails also reveal that nearly three years ago, senior White House advisor Andy Slavitt, who was simultaneously pressuring Facebook to suppress vaccine-related stories, reached out to Amazon to address what he referred to as ”propaganda and misinformation” in books sold on the platform. Slavitt expressed concern about the search results for “vaccines” on Amazon.
Jordan questioned how the Biden White House determined that there was “propaganda and misinformation” in Amazon’s bookstore. He claimed that the White House conducted keyword searches for controversial topics and contacted Amazon when it was dissatisfied with the search results.
THE AMAZON FILES – “feeling pressure from the White House”
Internal docs subpoenaed by @JudiciaryGOP & @Weaponization indicate that @amazon bowed down to Biden White House pressure to censor BOOKS.
🧵 Thread:
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) February 5, 2024
In response to the Biden administration’s request, Amazon appeared to consider taking action but refrained from “doing a manual intervention” due to concerns that it would attract attention from news outlets like Fox News.
Jordan asked why the Biden White House was so displeased with Amazon. He suggested that Amazon’s commitment to providing customers with access to various viewpoints and allowing them to think for themselves was unacceptable to the Biden administration.
Jordan revealed that a week after the initial email, Amazon met with the White House. Internal documents showed that Amazon sought clarification from the administration on whether they were being asked to remove books or if the concern was primarily about search results and order. Additionally, Amazon admitted to feeling pressure from the White House and anticipated a negative story from BuzzFeed regarding books on Amazon related to vaccine misinformation.
On the same day as the meeting with the White House, Amazon enabled the “Do Not Promote” feature for books questioning the effectiveness of COVID vaccines. Jordan claimed that the tech giant also explored other methods to reduce the visibility of books disliked by the Biden White House.
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“That’s right. Amazon caved to the pressure from the Biden White House to censor speech,” declared Jordan, emphasizing the significance of this revelation.
Jordan concluded the thread by announcing that the Judiciary Committee and the Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government are investigating the Biden administration’s efforts to pressure Amazon into enforcing more censorship.
This discovery adds Amazon to the growing list of tech giants that have faced pressure from the Biden administration to censor vaccine-related information. Previously, Jordan released the “Facebook Files,” exposing how the Biden administration influenced Facebook to suppress speech it disagreed with, including limiting The Daily Wire’s reach on the platform. Later, it was revealed that YouTube also complied with the White House’s censorship requests before Facebook was pressured to follow suit, according to documents shared with Jordan.
Why is it important for the House Judiciary Committee to conduct a thorough investigation into government interference in Amazon’s decision-making process and the potential censorship under pressure from the Biden administration
Documents show that on the same day as the meeting, Amazon implemented a “Do Not Promote” feature for books expressing hesitancy about COVID vaccines.
The Chairman expressed concern about the role the Biden administration played in Amazon’s decision to censor certain books and the potential infringement on freedom of speech. He argued that the government’s interference in what books are available to the public is not only a violation of the First Amendment but also sets a dangerous precedent.
Furthermore, Jordan raised questions about how the Biden White House was determining what constituted ”propaganda and misinformation” in books sold on Amazon. He pointed out that this determination seemed to be based on keyword searches and subjective opinions rather than objective criteria. This raises concerns about potential bias and selective censorship.
Jordan’s revelation regarding Amazon’s compliance with pressure from the Biden administration is significant in raising awareness about potential government influence on the availability of information and ideas. It highlights the need for transparency in the decision-making process and a robust defense of free speech rights.
Amazon, as one of the largest platforms for the dissemination of books and information, has a responsibility to uphold the principles of freedom of speech and provide access to a diverse range of ideas and perspectives. The company should not be influenced by political pressure in determining what books are promoted or suppressed.
The implications of Amazon’s censorship extend beyond the platform itself. It sets a dangerous precedent that other tech companies may feel compelled to follow. If companies like Amazon are bowing down to political pressure to censor certain viewpoints, it undermines the democratic principle of free expression and the ability of individuals to make informed decisions.
Congressman Jordan’s revelation of these emails is a call to action for Americans to be vigilant in defending freedom of speech and resisting any attempts to suppress dissenting opinions. It is crucial that we promote an open marketplace of ideas and protect the right to access a diverse range of viewpoints and information.
The House Judiciary Committee should conduct a thorough investigation into the extent of government interference in Amazon’s decision-making process and whether the company censored books under pressure from the Biden administration. This investigation should aim to preserve the freedom of speech and ensure that companies like Amazon are not manipulated into suppressing certain ideas or viewpoints.
As citizens, it is imperative that we voice our concerns and hold both the government and private entities accountable for any actions that infringe upon our fundamental rights. Freedom of speech is a cornerstone of democracy, and any attempts to undermine it should be met with resistance. Together, we must defend the principles that uphold our democratic society and ensure that censorship based on political bias does not become the norm.
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