Cruz Report Recommends Greater Transparency Over Deplatforming

Online platforms should provide public notice detailing when and why they remove users or deny services, Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said Wednesday. Cruz’s office issued a report “showing how online service providers are weaponizing their terms of service to deny conservative organizations access to essential business technology.” For example, the report claims political bias in Slack’s decision to remove Libs of TikTok’s workspace, reportedly over gender- and sex-related controversies. The report also claims political bias in Eventbrite’s removal of listings related to Matt Walsh’s “What Is a Woman?” documentary and Bonterra’s termination of its relationship with Independent Women’s Forum. The report recommends legislation requiring platforms to publish community standards, written notice when a service is blocked and an annual report detailing when and why service is denied.