(RightWing.org) – Billionaire Elon Musk won the hearts of conservatives after he completed the $44 billion purchase of Twitter in October 2022. Since buying the platform, he’s restored the accounts of numerous conservative voices, published documents revealing the Big Tech company’s collaboration with the US government to censure information unfavorable to Democrats, and changed the platform’s name to “X.” Nevertheless, some GOP lawmakers are considering taking legal action against Musk for alleged violations of the country’s antitrust laws.
On August 15, the Washington Examiner published a report detailing key Republicans’ concerns that X may be violating anti-monopoly laws through its recent alliances with a company to boost its potential ad revenue generation.
The report explained that X signed an exclusive contract with Integral Ad Science (IAS). The company provides “pre-bid brand safety and suitability” services on the platform for advertisers as part of an effort to protect its reputation. IAS models its system on the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM) initiative.
However, GOP lawmakers on the House Judiciary Committee are speaking out against the GARM standards. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), the panel’s chair, recently warned that companies adhering to that initiative’s tenants could be violating US antitrust laws.
Fellow committee member Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) echoed Jordan’s concerns. He lauded Musk’s ongoing efforts to promote free speech on X but warned that it would be “unfortunate” if the platform compromised its future by adopting a “culture of content moderation” that has created problems for the Big Tech company in the past.
Equally alarming, the Washington Examiner previously reported that AIS is affiliated with a British company called Global Disinformation Index (GDI). In turn, GDI works with two US-based groups known for their efforts to secretly track and blacklist conservative media outlets and platforms in hopes of disrupting their advertiser-driven revenue streams. Making matters worse, the Washington Examiner has information it claims shows GDI has received funding from US government sources.
It remains unclear what actions, if any, the House Judiciary Committee might take against X. For now, it’s only considering taking action against the platform for its purported antitrust violations.
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